Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#151511 12/03/05 09:54 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
In Wind in the Willows, Mister Toad wears a waistcoat. Mister Toad lives in the UK. In the US, there is no such thing as a waistcoat. What Mister Toad wears is called a vest. In the UK, a vest is an undergarment worn under a shirt. In the US, this garment is called an undershirt. In the UK, there is no such thing as an undershirt. Right?

#151512 12/03/05 10:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
I wear a hat.

#151513 12/03/05 10:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 270
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 270
It's no wonder that in my trip to London I didn't caught half of what those Brits were saying. And don't get me started about the Scots, laddies.

#151514 12/03/05 11:10 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
I’d say you were right about modern colloquial usage, Father Steve – it’s not an obvious choice. But OED2 traces its history as apparently quite an old form, quoting Hexham from 1648 and Emerson from 1856 ('Older than all epics and histories, which clothe a nation, this undershirt sits close to the body.' It also draws attention to the NFris onnersjürt, Da. underskjorte, and Sw. -skjorta.) for comparison.

#151515 12/03/05 11:16 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
“When we Americans are through with the English language,” says Mr. Dooley, “it will look as if it had been run over by a musical comedy.”

~Finley Peter Dunn.

#151516 12/03/05 11:18 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Right on, Mav. There is apparently also some authority for calling the thing worn under chain mail an undershirt but I have not tracked this down.


Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,363
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 529 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,558
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,919
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5