DCHP-3

semi

DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)

Non-Canadianism

This is a word that our editors have determined is not a Canadianism.

n. — Housing

an abbreviation for semi-detached house, a house that shares a wall with one other house; a duplex.

Semi is prevalent in Irish English, and British attestations of the term date back to the early 20th century (see OED-3, s.v. "semi" [1]), which lists a first attestation (to date) from 1912 in the UK. Semi continues to have currency in Ireland, where it is possibly a preservation from UK English. It is comparatively infrequent in Canada and in the United States (see Chart 1), and quotations are difficult to find in Canadian sources.
See also COD-2, s.v. "semi," (1) which is marked "Cdn & Brit."
See: duplex
While semi-detached does occur as a term, the dominant Canadian word for this Irish English and UK term is duplex (see Chart 1).

Quotations

1978
For this year, the total starts are forecast at 225,000 units with single family units at around 104,000, semis at 20,000, row units at 29,000 and apartments at 72,000.
1988
Total housing starts, which include singles, semis, condos and duplexes for 1988 were 40,000. This will decline 5 per cent to 38,000 in 1989, he said.
1998
Bargain bonanza best describes the inventory blowout by Richcraft Homes. Singles, towns, semis and terrace homes across the city are being discounted by as much as $10,000.

References

  • COD-2
  • OED-3

Images

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 3 Mar. 2013

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 3 Mar. 2013