What is the language "British"?

[Grumpy]

On Wednesday 06 September 2006 18:49, William Case wrote:
> On Wed, 2006-06-09 at 20:04 -0400, Gene Heskett wrote:
> > On Wednesday 06 September 2006 15:03, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> > >Mike McCarty wrote:
> > >> Gene Heskett wrote:
> > >>> On Tuesday 05 September 2006 12:25, Michael P. Brininstool wrote:
> > >>>> dictionary.com sez basically that fuse is the thing you light to
> > >>>> blow something up and the fuze is an electronic version of same.
> > >>>
> > >>> And as a C.E.T. of 34 years, and chasing electrons for a living for
> > >>> 57 or so, I have yet to see the hot wire device designed to open a
> > >>> circuit when too much current flows called anything but a fuse, with
> > >>> an 's'.  Thats not
> > >>
> > >> Yep.
> > >>
> > >>> saying it couldn't be so spelled in other locales, but here, there's
> > >>> only one way to spell it unless the writer failed spelling.
> > >>
> > >> Then dictionary.com is wrong. A fuze is a device for detonating a
> > >> weapon. A fuse is an electrical device. I've been doing electronics
> > >> for 40 years, and *never* have encountered the term "fuze" to mean
> > >> an electronics component.
> > >>
> > >> Furthermore, I looked in a "real" dictionary, and that's what it
> > >> verified.
> > >>
> > >> Mike
> > >
> > >*My ancient dictionary, about as fragile as the dead sea scrolls, even
> > >shows pictures of several "fuzes!"  Two have propellers and they
> > >obviously screw into the nose of a projectile/bomb.
> > >
> > >"FUZE noun  A mechanical or electrical device that initiates the
> > >explosive charge of a shell, bomb, grenade, etc."
> > >
> > >Funk & Wagnalls New College Standard Dictionary  C. 1947
> >
> > Darn, first braggart hasn't a chance in this company.  My Websters is 11
> > years newer. :(
> >
> > >Thunderbird Compose spell checker can't deal with Fuze though!
>
> I sympathize with the American posters here who know no better than to
> use American toys that call themselves dictionaries.  The OED which is a
> real English dictionary does not define fuze directly but simply refers
> to fuse.  The definition of fuse(n.) includes something to break an
> electrical circuit and something to ignite explosives, so that should
> settle it.
I guess that the editors of the OED don't spend much time playing with 
fireworks.
> --
> Regards Bill