What do you call those liquid-filled glass things that “snow” when shaken?

Dear Cecil: I’m sure you’ve seen those clear plastic glass containers filled with a liquid and tiny flakes of “snow” or some other material. When you turn or shake them, you create a “snowstorm” inside. My question is, what do you call these things? I feel so inadequate when I’m trying to describe that scene in Citizen Kane. Larry Raymond, Richardson, TexasCecil replies:Get ready for this, Lar. You call them “shake-'em-ups.” You were expecting maybe rhombicosidodecahedron?No, but they weren’t expecting “shake-'em-ups,” eitherDear Cecil:Re: “shake-'em-ups.” I have over 200 of these things, and I can authoritatively say their name is “snowdomes.” I call them “snow.” No flea marketer would know definitively what a “shake-'em-up” was. S.G., Cabin John, MarylandDear Cecil:I have subjected countless people to this same question. To this day one friend insists they are called “waterballs.” However, based on my extensive data, the correct term is “snowglobes.” H.G., from D.C.Dear Cecil:They’re called “waterglobes.” Erika M., Santa Barbara, California

Cecil replies:

Get ready for this, Lar. You call them “shake-’em-ups.” You were expecting maybe rhombicosidodecahedron?

No, but they weren’t expecting “shake-’em-ups,” either

Dear Cecil:

Re: “shake-’em-ups.” I have over 200 of these things, and I can authoritatively say their name is “snowdomes.” I call them “snow.” No flea marketer would know definitively what a “shake-’em-up” was.

— S.G., Cabin John, Maryland

Dear Cecil:

I have subjected countless people to this same question. To this day one friend insists they are called “waterballs.” However, based on my extensive data, the correct term is “snowglobes.”

— H.G., from D.C.

Dear Cecil:

They’re called “waterglobes.”

— Erika M., Santa Barbara, California

Cecil replies:

Great. Till you guys get your act together, I’m sticking with “shake-’em-ups.”

More nominees

Dear Cecil:

Those shake-ups are called “snowglobes.”

— Erica, Livonia, Michigan; similarly from SnoMisr and BJECTR, both via AOL

Dear Cecil:

They are called “snow storms”!

— hc, via AOL

Cecil replies:

So far “snowglobes” is leading with four votes, with the other four entries (not counting “shake-em-ups”) having one apiece. Whatsamatter, nobody wants to nominate “Rosebud”?

It ain’t over yet

Dear Cecil:

Those snow-filled things are called “snowies,” of course.

— Arwen79, via AOL

AARRRRGGGHHHH!!!

Cecil Adams

Send questions to Cecil via cecil@straightdope.com.