Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2013 December 27

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December 27

What is this toy called?

What is the name of those stick noise maker toys where you turn them upside down and there's something inside that slides down and makes a noise similar to someone being sick or moaning? You sometimes seem them in pens nowadays and if you move them back and forth fast enough they make a higher pitched warbling noise. When I was a kid in the UK we would refer to them as sick sticks but I've been unable to find an official name for this toy and searching for something you can't easily describe is difficult. Anyone have a clue what they're called? 63.95.64.254 (talk) 19:33, 27 December 2013 (UTC)

Is it something like a rain stick? Looie496 (talk) 19:52, 27 December 2013 (UTC)

Similar idea but instead of lots of little pieces moving downward it is basically an empty tube with one mechanism inside that air moves through to make the noise (I'm assuming - the ends of the tube always have little spaces). Think more like those cow noise makers you give to kids that you turn over and they moo. 63.95.64.254 (talk) 20:08, 27 December 2013 (UTC)

That specific type is Cow in a Can. I think the generic name is just "noise maker". InedibleHulk (talk) 21:39, 27 December 2013 (UTC)

Here it is opened up, showing how the sound works. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:44, 27 December 2013 (UTC)

We used to call them "giggle sticks", like these. 86.157.149.15 (talk) 13:28, 2 January 2014 (UTC)

That brought up a lot of accurate results so seems to be more universal. Thanks :) 63.95.64.254 (talk) 18:05, 2 January 2014 (UTC)