summary bubbler months ago posted inquiry linguist listing distribution word bubbler synonym drinking fountain thanks responded many list dictionary american regional english also extensively investigated word goal gain specific information supplied dare example regional distribution within wisconsin summary findings wisconsin bubbler used throughout eastern half state particularly along coast lake michigan becomes less prominent west one travels stronghold bubbler appears milwaukee suburbs milwaukee also thought geographic origin bubbler coined kohler company early 1900 university uw whitewater appears conflict call drinking fountains one residence halls sign asking residents use drinking fountain garbage disposal word rinking crossed water put place water fountain crossed bubbler put place goes show people loyal colloquialisms research provided evidence term use minnesota illinois find word use along western part michigan upper peninsula borders wisconsin bubblerusing region bubbler used anywhere else midwest existence escaped research fact found evidence word use within u west mississippi south ohio river region uses term includes state rhode island used exclusively many speakers far eastern connecticut southeastern massachusetts including boston area people region respond amusement nt know word used anywhere outside area lastly much surprise bubbler used southeastern australia predominately new south wales including sydney canberra portions provinces bordering new south wales information australia based responses especially sydney used bubbler exclusively growing parts australia never heard term appear also regionally distributed australia distinguished bubblers drinking fountains called outside fountains bubblers others vice versa one called nonrefridgerating fountains bubblers drinking fountain seems generic term everyone familiar whether use synonymns water fountain water cooler fountain water bubbler worth accounts term water bubbler among african americans milwaukee included three people plain fountain seemed word choice northwestern wisconsin drinking fountain water fountain used pretty interchangeably everywhere else use literature printed documentation bubbler could find given definition 1985 milwaukee journal article word usage milwaukee realize findings inconsistent dare believe research nearly thorough dare nt take account historical usage current usage thanks responded avid bubbler user sean christensen internet seanc iclnet93 iclnet org university wisconsin whitewater