Graham macLachlan Jun 7, 2009:

a question of speed There is no fundamental difference between the two terms in my view however 'accelerator' relates to speed, and therefore appropriate for a speedboat skimming across the water, whereas 'throttle' refers to the flow of fuel and would be more appropriate on a displacement craft which pushes its way through the wet stuff

Graham macLachlan Jun 7, 2009:

ditto for accelerator 3. A device, usu. a pedal, for controlling the speed of the engine of a motor vehicle. E20.
OED

Graham macLachlan Jun 7, 2009:

definition of throttle 2. a. A valve controlling the flow of fuel, steam, etc., in an engine. Also more fully throttle-valve. E19.

b. A lever, pedal, or other control, esp. with its related apparatus, for opening or closing a throttle-valve. Also more fully throttle control, throttle-lever. M19.
OED

Tony M Jun 7, 2009:

accelerator I don't honestly think it has a lot to do with that end result, really, Barbara; to my way of thinking, we call it an 'accelerator' on a car because it has a spring return, which means the car naturally slows down, and only accelerates when you press the pedal; it is associated with a 'brake' pedal.

But on a boat, we are more concerned about the engine speed, not the literal speed through the water — and boats don't have brakes, as many of us know to our cost ;-)

I think it is just a case of usage, where accelerator is traditionally associated with vehicles only; I suppose the argument could be used that once it becomes a foot pedal, it can be likened to the automotive context (my Dad always referred scathingly to people with motor-boats as "marine motorists"!), but I don't believe that is in widespread usage.

Michel F. Morin Jun 7, 2009:

Agree. "Gas pedal" and "throttle" are more or less equivalent (see "http://www.granddictionnaire.com/BTML/FRA/r_Motclef/index800... But I tend to believe that "throttle" is more commonly hand (and not foot) operated.

B D Finch Jun 7, 2009:

OK throttle I bow to Tony's greater knowledge of boats. I was also wondering whether there might be a different logic operating here: acceleration is the resulting speed effect, throttle is about the supply of fuel to the engine. On land vehicles, there is a pretty direct relationship between the two, on boats the relationship isn't so direct as current or waves etc. intervene; this might be a reason for "throttle" being more appropriate?

Tony M Jun 6, 2009:

throttle I would disagree, Barbara; 'accelerator' is widely used for vehicles, yes... but 'throttle' is more common on boats; the only difference really is that when it is a pedal, it usually has a spring return (though not necessarily, since 'balanced pedals' do also exist...), whereas when it is a hand lever (boats / planes), it isn't

B D Finch May 31, 2009:

accelerator or throttle? I now think that, for a pedal, accelerator is better than throttle. The throttle lever on a tractor is not an accelerator as it is not just for acceleration, but also for throttling down and engine braking. A pedal is only positively operated by the driver when accelerating.