Re: [h-cost] t-top? Tank?
Ann Catelli wrote: 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. When I first heard the term in about 1970 I wondered if it was something to do with military tanks. I've searched the H-cost archives and can't find the thread giving the swimsuit explanation, but Wikipedia agrees with it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweater_vest 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
Re: [h-cost] t-top? Tank?
A shirt with tiny straps is called a cami or camisole. Monica -Original Message- From: h-costume-boun...@indra.com [mailto:h-costume-boun...@indra.com] On Behalf Of Ann Catelli Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2014 10:50 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] t-top? Tank? 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 ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] t-top? Tank?
FWIW, here's what the OED has to say: tank suit n. U.S. a (ladies') one-piece bathing-suit with scooped neck (cf. maillot n. 2). 1959 P. Roth Goodbye, Columbus ii. 20 She wore a black tank suit and went barefooted. 1979 Dancemagazine Feb. 108/3 In Moth Dance, the lines of Hermans' tensed, slender body, in tanksuit and reflecting sunglasses, become clearer as the semidarkness grows lighter. tank top n. (a) the top of a tank; (b) a sleeveless upper garment with round neck and deep armholes, freq. of knitted material and similar to the top of a one-piece bathing-suit, worn by men or women; cf. tank suit n. above. 1900 Engin. Mag. 19 678 The margin plates of the tank top are put on, and the tank-top plating itself. 1968 New Yorker 27 Jan. 25 Miss Farrell—a tall, pretty ballerina dressed in a purple tank top and baggy rubber warm-up pants. 1971 Observer 1 Aug. 22/3 A favourite Paris idea is to put little woolly vests or tank tops over shirts and under suit jackets. 1977 C. Miller K. Swift Words Women 157 Even the latter have given up whalebone corsets and starched winged collars without assuming they have to switch to miniskirts or tank tops. --Charlene On Thu, Jan 9, 2014 at 4:13 AM, Kate Bunting katembunt...@gmail.com wrote: Ann Catelli wrote: 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. When I first heard the term in about 1970 I wondered if it was something to do with military tanks. I've searched the H-cost archives and can't find the thread giving the swimsuit explanation, but Wikipedia agrees with it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweater_vest 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
