Brit-Speak: clothing

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Pam Hugonnet" <pbarhug at e...>
wrote:
> Sarah wrote:
> 
> Do you mean a pinafore?  That woould be a sleeveless dress, or a 
> tank  top - a sleeveless knitted sweater. 
>
> A waistcoat is what you would call a vest - so what do you call what 
> we call a vest? (Underwear for upper body)
> Sarah
> also curious

 
> pam replies:
> 
> We would just call that an undershirt.  And there are different
types of undershirts as well.  The ones with the crew necks and short
sleeves are generally referred to as t-shirts, while the tanks styles
ones have become known as "wife-beaters."
> 
> Oh, the joys of language.
> drpam


bboyminn:

Men's Sleeveless T-shirt = Tank Top, tank, A-shirt, Athletic shirt,
wife-beater. This is the type that has somewhat strap-like bit of
cloth over the shoulders and a slightly plunging neckline.

The term 'wife-beater' comes from the typically low-class rowdy
hard-drinking redneck tough-guy types who wear them as outerwear and
are seen as the low-class types that are likely to beat their wives.

A standard T-shirt (crew-neck) but without sleeves is a 'muscle shirt'
because it shows off the muscles in your arms. 

To me, an American, a 'waist-coat' is a slighly formal jacket that
ends at the waist. Similar to the jacket worn by waiters in fancy
restaurants; looking much like a tailcoat with out the tails.

A 'vest' is always sleeveless and is very similar to the /waist-coat/
described above but without sleeves. This is typcially part of a
'three piece suit'; Jacket, pants, and vest. In this light, I guess a
vest could be called 'middle-wear'. Usually found in two styles the
slightly formal suit style and the more informal cowboy/biker style.
Cowboy/biker styles are frequently made out of leather, both rough and
smooth.

Just passing it along.

Steve/bboyminn
(was bboy_mn)