Bow-SAHL.
[QUOTE=2DogsFarm;7650814]
I can solve this:
When DH & I went trailriding in Molera State Forest (N CA) the guide called them Shotguns.
As opposed, I imagined, to the batwing chaps cowboys wear.[/QUOTE]
Yup. Grew up in Norcal and rode Western. I still have my original pair of Shotguns. (Yeah, I could zip the pieces all together and they wouldn’t fit on even one leg … :eek: I was pretty tiny 50 odd years ago!)
I use the chaps pronunciation though, and don’t remember anyone saying shaps, but it could have been and I wasn’t paying attention :lol:.
Edited to add: I believe that the word derives from the Spanish “chapaderos” and for some reason I think that is pronounced with ch- rather than sh- but I could be very wrong about that. Similarly, chinks (type of chap) is pronounced chinks, not shinks. hmmmm … getting a little carried away here. 
Shaps.
[QUOTE=bits619;7654031]
This thread is blowing my mind too!..
And thanks to this thread I’ve just said ‘avocado’ so many times it’s lost its meaning. Same with Lancaster. And I’m completely lost on the pronunciation of Saskatchewan, by a native or tourist!
…SMH[/QUOTE]
Me, too! One of the cities here in the Antelope Valley is Lan-CAS-ter…
Nor Cal native, who lived in NoVa for 13 years, and who has ridden Western and English and I have never heard anyone say shaps. Mind blown! Not sure I can change now.
Also, Bow-sul, avacahdoh, and sub/soda.
