Tank top because it was worn by tank crewmen, who'd strip down to that layer, UK vest layer, because it was very very hot inside a tank.
Ann in CT On Tuesday, January 7, 2014 4:20 AM, Kate Bunting <katembunt...@gmail.com> wrote: Here in the UK we would call it a vest, because it resembles the undergarment of that name. (Yes, I know a vest is a waistcoat in the US.) Out of interest, I looked at the website of a clothing company I use and they call them vests or occasionally camis, but the distinction between them is unclear. I first heard the term "tank top" 40 years ago to describe a sleeveless knitted pullover to be worn over a shirt for warmth. The name always puzzled me until I learned from this list that Americans used to call a swimming pool a tank and that the garment was named from those 1920s men's swimsuits. I don't think we would ever call the lightweight garment a tank over here. Kate Bunting Retired librarian & 17th century reenactor Derby, UK _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
