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gas bar
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
Spelling variants:gasoline bar, Gas Bar
n. — Automotive
a gas station without a service garage (see Image 1).
Type: 1. Origin — The term is extremely rare outside of the country, as shown in Chart 1.
The shortened form, gas bar, is the more common form today. In spoken discourse in urban areas, gas bar does not seem to have much currency. It seems to have appeared in the 1950s (see the 1960 citation with the term in quotation marks) and was apparently formed in analogy to older compounds such as gas boat 'motor boat' and gas-car 'automobile', and their long forms, which are found in DCHP-1 from 1919 and 1934 respectively.
See also COD-2, which marks the term "Cdn", OED-3, s.v. "gas bar", which is marked "Canad.".
The shortened form, gas bar, is the more common form today. In spoken discourse in urban areas, gas bar does not seem to have much currency. It seems to have appeared in the 1950s (see the 1960 citation with the term in quotation marks) and was apparently formed in analogy to older compounds such as gas boat 'motor boat' and gas-car 'automobile', and their long forms, which are found in DCHP-1 from 1919 and 1934 respectively.
See also COD-2, which marks the term "Cdn", OED-3, s.v. "gas bar", which is marked "Canad.".
Note that the term is not listed in DCHP-1 and Gage-1, as a very new term at the time, but also not in Gage 5 or ITP Nelson.
Quotations
1960
A "gasoline bar" for the Canadian Tire Corp. on Lawrence Ave east of Markham Rd was approved last night by Scarboro building committee. There will be 12 gasoline pumps and cars will be funneled through. Motorists will pay an exit wicket. Jack Simmonds, appearing for the company, said the installation would be the first of its kind in Ontario.
1965
Hwy. Gas Bar & Restaurant PLUS good living quarters, situated on main highway in resort area and doing thriving business
1978
Seven of the robberies occurred since the weekend and involved three confectionery stores, three service stations or gasoline bars and a pizza takeout restaurant.
1989
During the decade, grocers began to sell much more than food, offering merchandise such as home electronics, housewares - even furniture. And other businesses that had remained unchanged for years diversified.
GAS STATIONS became gas bars. We were given a choice between full service and pumping our own gas. Many gas bars opened small convenience stores offering high-priced groceries.
1998
The committee said the Competition Act needs to be toughened to prevent predatory pricing -- when big oil companies engage in price wars to drive independents and "mom-and-pop gas bars" out of business and prevent others from entering the market.
2009
Canadian Tire, which also runs gasoline bars and offers financial services, said retail was particularly "soft" in Ontario and Quebec as customers reacted to slowing economic growth and higher gas prices.
2015
"A male enters the Co-op grocery store, he selects a small item, paid for it with a larger denomination bill - a $50 bill - receives his change and goes across parking lot to the Co-op Gas Bar and does the exact same action again," Curtis said. "He selected another small item, paid for it with a $50 bill."
References
- OED-3
- DCHP-1 • Online
- COD-2
- Gage-1
- Gage-5
- DCHP-1
Images
Image 1: A gas bar in Vancouver, BC. Photo: S. Dollinger
