diff --git a/core/blockly.js b/core/blockly.js
index 0123d7626..7dd8824fd 100644
--- a/core/blockly.js
+++ b/core/blockly.js
@@ -487,4 +487,4 @@ Blockly.setParentContainer = function(container) {
 /** Aliases. */
 Blockly.bindEvent_ = Blockly.browserEvents.bind;
 Blockly.unbindEvent_ = Blockly.browserEvents.unbind;
-Blockly.bindEventWithChecks_ = Blockly.browserEvents.checkAndBind;
+Blockly.bindEventWithChecks_ = Blockly.browserEvents.bindFilterable;
diff --git a/core/browser_events.js b/core/browser_events.js
index 9d98b54c4..d3bafdefa 100644
--- a/core/browser_events.js
+++ b/core/browser_events.js
@@ -17,16 +17,17 @@ goog.require('Blockly.Touch');
 
 /**
  * Blockly opaque event data used to unbind events when using
- * `Blockly.browserEvents.bindEvent_` and
- * `Blockly.browserEvents.bindEventWithChecks_`.
+ * `Blockly.browserEvents.bind` and
+ * `Blockly.browserEvents.bindFilterable`.
  * @typedef {!Array.<!Array>}
  */
 Blockly.browserEvents.Data;
 
 /**
- * Bind an event to a function call.  When calling the function, verifies that
- * it belongs to the touch stream that is currently being processed, and splits
- * multitouch events into multiple events as needed.
+ * Bind an event handler that can be ignored if it is not part of the active
+ * touch stream.
+ * Use this for events that either start or continue a multi-part gesture (e.g.
+ * mousedown or mousemove, which may be part of a drag or click).
  * @param {!EventTarget} node Node upon which to listen.
  * @param {string} name Event name to listen to (e.g. 'mousedown').
  * @param {Object} thisObject The value of 'this' in the function.
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ Blockly.browserEvents.Data;
  *     unbindEvent_.
  * @public
  */
-Blockly.browserEvents.checkAndBind = function(
+Blockly.browserEvents.bindFilterable = function(
     node, name, thisObject, func, opt_noCaptureIdentifier,
     opt_noPreventDefault) {
   var handled = false;
@@ -98,10 +99,10 @@ Blockly.browserEvents.checkAndBind = function(
 
 
 /**
- * Bind an event to a function call.  Handles multitouch events by using the
- * coordinates of the first changed touch, and doesn't do any safety checks for
- * simultaneous event processing.  In most cases prefer is to use
- * `Blockly.bindEventWithChecks_`.
+ * Bind an event handler that should be called regardless of whether it is part
+ * of the active touch stream.
+ * Use this for events that are not part of a multi-part gesture (e.g.
+ * mouseover for tooltips).
  * @param {!EventTarget} node Node upon which to listen.
  * @param {string} name Event name to listen to (e.g. 'mousedown').
  * @param {Object} thisObject The value of 'this' in the function.
diff --git a/core/bubble.js b/core/bubble.js
index 5ee397c5b..25264feec 100644
--- a/core/bubble.js
+++ b/core/bubble.js
@@ -300,10 +300,10 @@ Blockly.Bubble.prototype.createDom_ = function(content, hasResize) {
   }
 
   if (!this.workspace_.options.readOnly) {
-    this.onMouseDownBubbleWrapper_ = Blockly.browserEvents.checkAndBind(
+    this.onMouseDownBubbleWrapper_ = Blockly.browserEvents.bindFilterable(
         this.bubbleBack_, 'mousedown', this, this.bubbleMouseDown_);
     if (this.resizeGroup_) {
-      this.onMouseDownResizeWrapper_ = Blockly.browserEvents.checkAndBind(
+      this.onMouseDownResizeWrapper_ = Blockly.browserEvents.bindFilterable(
           this.resizeGroup_, 'mousedown', this, this.resizeMouseDown_);
     }
   }
@@ -388,9 +388,9 @@ Blockly.Bubble.prototype.resizeMouseDown_ = function(e) {
       new Blockly.utils.Coordinate(
           this.workspace_.RTL ? -this.width_ : this.width_, this.height_));
 
-  Blockly.Bubble.onMouseUpWrapper_ = Blockly.browserEvents.checkAndBind(
+  Blockly.Bubble.onMouseUpWrapper_ = Blockly.browserEvents.bindFilterable(
       document, 'mouseup', this, Blockly.Bubble.bubbleMouseUp_);
-  Blockly.Bubble.onMouseMoveWrapper_ = Blockly.browserEvents.checkAndBind(
+  Blockly.Bubble.onMouseMoveWrapper_ = Blockly.browserEvents.bindFilterable(
       document, 'mousemove', this, this.resizeMouseMove_);
   Blockly.hideChaff();
   // This event has been handled.  No need to bubble up to the document.
diff --git a/core/workspace_svg.js b/core/workspace_svg.js
index 9d65802da..cddfa2f08 100644
--- a/core/workspace_svg.js
+++ b/core/workspace_svg.js
@@ -809,9 +809,9 @@ Blockly.WorkspaceSvg.prototype.createDom = function(opt_backgroundClass) {
       {'class': 'blocklyBubbleCanvas'}, this.svgGroup_);
 
   if (!this.isFlyout) {
-    Blockly.browserEvents.checkAndBind(
+    Blockly.browserEvents.bindFilterable(
         this.svgGroup_, 'mousedown', this, this.onMouseDown_, false, true);
-    Blockly.browserEvents.checkAndBind(
+    Blockly.browserEvents.bindFilterable(
         this.svgGroup_, 'wheel', this, this.onMouseWheel_);
   }