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Original · left

Light switch

First in use: the 1880s
Duplicate · right

Nintendo Switch

First in use: c. 2017

Switch / Light switch / Nintendo Switch

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Flipping a light vs. Nintendo's console.

Which meaning of Switch is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Light switch came first (the 1880s). Nintendo Switch arrived in 2017. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Light switchNintendo Switch
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

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The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1880s

Light switch

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Duplicate · c. 2017

Nintendo Switch

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More duplicated terms

Hardware & devices