I pronounce 'buoy' like "boo - ee"

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In UK it would be BOY.
Max.

 

Yes I know americans say boo-ee.
Brits say boy as in male child.

 

In UK it would be BOY.
Max.

On that regard, I've found this which shows up, again and again:

Why a ship is called "she".

A ship is called a she because there is always a great deal of bustle around her; there is usually a gang of men about. She has a waist and stays.
It takes a lot of paint to keep her good-looking.
It is not the initial expense that breaks you, it is the upkeep.
She can be all decked out.
It takes an experienced man to handle her correctly.
Without a man at the helm, she is absolutely uncontrollable.
She shows her topsides, hiders her bottom and, when coming into port, always heads for the buoys.”

 

I like it.

There is also many English expressions in daily use that come from the days of sail.
Max.

 

Then there are abbreviations

Salop = Shropshire

Oxon = Oxford

Worcs = Worcestershire

 

Then there are abbreviations
Oxon = Oxford

My home town BTW, but it is a little apropos as IIRC Oxford originated as an Ox(en) Ford across the Thames.
Max.

 

A simple solution. Gracias Wayne.

I have always been intrigued why everybody pronounces the particle "ou" in "Houston" so differently as you do in, for example, "noun", "mould", "bound".

Well for one thing, it is a name, and presumably Sam Houston's name was pronounced the way it is now. If I had never heard of Houston and came across this name in a book, I might read it as house-ton

 

If you say "house-ton" I think of the Street in NYC ... especially since that's the pronunciation on the subway's announcement.

 

Hyu - ston is in Texas
House-ton is in New York City

 

Use zip instead next time.

 

Well, my doubt is solved. Thanks to you all.