20:44 Nov 11, 2009 

It's just me then.

17:33 Nov 11, 2009 

I remember playing with them in UK primary school and that they were called "diabolos".

16:37 Nov 11, 2009 

...I understand 'diabolo'. I think the term is fairly well-known as far as the circus-style toy goes. UK English speaker here, by the way.

Just my two pence :)

15:44 Nov 11, 2009 

Before coming to France, I would not have known what a "diabolo" is. I'd undoubtedly seen them on circus shows on TV and the like, but I cannot say I'd ever seen the things at first hand, and certainly never played with one as it seems all French kids do. So I'd be reticent to call this shape "diabolo", even if the word exists in English, and might prefer "cones, bicones, double cones", etc. Of course others' experience might be different and it might be a perfectly understandable term for the English quidam.