From the NannyMUD documentation

LAST CHANGE

2003-04-21

FUNCTION

NAME
        generic_name - Returns a generic name of an object.


LOCATION
	/obj/support

SYNTAX
	string generic_name(object ob)

DESCRIPTION
	If the objects query_name() returns something, that something
	is used.

	Otherwise, if the objects short() returns something, that
	something is used.

	Otherwise, "player" is used for players, "monster" for all
	other objects for which the lfun is_living() returns non-zero,
	and "thing" for everything else.


SEE ALSO
        a_name in support/a_name


SEE ALSO
        pluralize in obj/lingua


SEE ALSO
        number_to_string in obj/numerical