Summertime, when the living is easy . . .

But the lingo of summer isn't so easy. Here's a handy guide to pesky terms that dive bomb us like mosquitos on long summer evenings.

Speaking of long evenings, remember that it's "daylight saving time" (not "savings time"), "lightning bug" (not "lightening bug") and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (not "A Midsummer's Night Dream").

As for summer refreshments, it's "lemonade," not lemonaid, unless you're using lemon juice to lighten your hair. When I tried this trick during my "beach boy" summer of 1967, my locks turned Donald Trump orange.

Enjoy your "coleslaw" (not "cold slaw"), "tossed salad" (not "toss salad"), "zucchini" (two "c's," as in "succulent") and "frankfurter" (not "frankfruter").

Speaking of dogs, the "dog days" of summer are so named, not for heat-stricken canines, but because Sirius, the "Dog Star," reigns as the brightest star in the midsummer sky.

Now for some summer "fun"-damentals." Even though head-over-heels tumbles are performed most often in summer, they're "somersaults," not "summersaults."

That plastic disc is a "Frisbee," with a capital "F" because "Frisbee" is a trademark of the Wham-o toy company. The Frisbee is so named because it was "invented" by Yale students who tossed around circular tin plates from the Frisbie Pie Company of Bridgeport during the 1920s and 1930s.

Before the 1930s, men had worn swimsuits that covered their entire torsos (trunks), hence the term "trunks." But during that decade, these garments began to be abbreviated to cover just the lower part of a man's torso, yet the name "trunks" stuck.

And "tank tops" are so called because they were originally worn in and around the "tank," a 1920s term for a swimming pool.

Turning to hot "spells," remember that "canoe" has one "e" in all of its forms: "canoeing," "canoed," "canoeist" and "canoeable."

And, no, "canoe" has nothing to do with "canoodle" (to hug and kiss). "Canoe" derives from the Carib term for this vessel, "kanawa," while "canoodle" may come from an English dialect word meaning "foolish lover." Canoodling in a canoe is not recommended; the things tip over easily.

And because couples that try to paddle together in tandem canoes and kayaks often end up arguing — "No, I said the other side!" — these watercraft are sometimes called "divorce boats."

Summertime, when the loving is not always easy...

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Conn., invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via e-mail to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.