Here's another of those words, full of meaning, depending on where, and to a degree, when, you are from. When I first stumbled across the word, it was short for transistor radio, back in the day when the technology was so new that the number of transistors was proudly advertised on the front! I distinctly recall my pride when my father bought me a "6-transistor" set back from one of his forays overseas in the RAF.

Since then, of course, I have discovered that is not the only meaning - there are doubtless countless others. Some that I've been familiar with I list herewith.

• Transvestite or transsexual - any person crossing between genders, gender roles or sociosexual boundaries.
• Transparency - photographic slide film, from the days when silver nitrate ruled the roost.
• The Ford Transit van, beloved of white van man in the UK.
• Car transmission, meaning the gearbox and gear train that connects the engine to the road.
• Electrical transformers.

If you know of others, please let me know!

In the Bay Area "tranny" is also used to describe tourists from San Jose who come and use phrases such as "hecka (or hella) tight", "jigga", "homie", "dawg", or "fo shizzle my nizzle". You can spot a tranny by their side-ways and/or up-side-down visor.