Nicknames

Surveyors seem to make them up for about everything. 

transits and theodolites are called guns (although total stations that shoot lazers are kinda guns).

engineer's tapes are called chains. 

Trimble gear got them almost every time something new came out:

Chicken bucket

Cowbell

Box of knowledge

There was the gold brick, the blue brick, probably others that I never heard of. Something about their folding measure up rod, but I can't think of it. 

a unit that needs a nickname is this steampunk looking thing:

If it doesn't already have one it should get one