Month: October 2024

Finishing Bill Bryson’s At Home, I discovered that originally, around the year 1540, it was a word for fabric, a diminutive of “toile,” which is still used to describe a type of linen. Then, it came to denote fabric used for a dressing table. After that, the items on a dressing table (hence “toiletries”). Subsequently, the word came to mean the dressing table itself, then the process of dressing, then receiving guests while dressing, then the room for dressing, then any personal room next to the bedroom, then a room used for sanitary purposes, and, finally, the toilet itself. This explains why “eau de toilette” in English and French can mean both something women enjoy applying to their face and simultaneously “toilet water.”

Interesting note on the word “wardrobe,” exactly as garderobe. It was a combination of “guard” (“to keep”) and “robe” (“clothing”) and initially meant a storeroom, then any personal room, briefly (and briefly only) a bedroom, and finally, a toilet.

The “water closet” (WC) appeared in 1755 and originally designated a place where royal enemas were performed. From 1770, the French called the home toilet “un lieu à l’anglaise” (“an English place”), which might explain the origin of the English word “loo.” Online sources say that loo comes from “gardez l’eau,” meaning “watch out for the water,” as it was shouted before emptying chamber pots out the window.

Here in the USA, toilets are called restrooms—a true Americanism. I just googled that in the first half of the 20th century, many American workplaces and public buildings had rooms with chairs or sofas that employees or clients could use to take a break, sit down, and rest. In some jurisdictions, laws were passed requiring these restrooms to also have toilet facilities. In everyday life, people who didn’t have the time to sit on a sofa and relax still entered the restroom to use the toilet. Over time, the expression “I’m going to the restroom” became synonymous with using the toilet or sinks, rather than chairs and sofas. Even as rooms with sofas became less common, the phrase with its new meaning persisted. Thus, a room with toilet facilities came to be called a “restroom.”

Of course, we can also say bathroom, without, of course, expecting any actual baths there.

The photo — a restroom from the 1930s.

In “Monday Begins on Saturday,” I came across the word “culotte” and realized that I have a very vague idea of various clothing names in Russian, except for the most basic ones.

This is pretty much a whole new language for me. I don’t know, maybe those who go shopping for clothes have a better grasp of it.

Great source with pictures: https://lookso.ru/vidy-odezhdy/.

Following this link, you’ll encounter Balmacaan, Bushlat, Duster, Duffle coat, Sheepskin coat, Inverness, Cape, Covercoat, Cocoon, Coper, Crombie, Manto, Ulster, Pardessus, Polo, Poncho, Puffer, Raglan, Riding coat, Swinger, Trench coat, Chesterfield, Greatcoat, Hubertus, Raincoat, Mackintosh, Coat-robe, Trench, Anorak, Blouson, Bomber, Leather jacket, Cape jacket, Norfolk, Parka, Spencer, Blazer, Jumper, Cardigan, Kittel, Top, Afghan, Baggy, Bamster, Bananas, Bermudas, Boyfriends, Breeches, Galife, Gaucho, Jeans, Joggers, Pipers, Capri, Cargo, Carrot, Flared, Culottes, Leggings, Palazzo, Skinny, Slacks, Tubes, Chinos, Churidar, Shalwar, Shorts, Bodysuit, Boxers, Briefs, Bustier, Combidress, Negligee, Peignoir, Pajamas, Slip, Thong, Trunks.

No need to read the text below carefully because it’s pretty much impossible to understand.

Here’s an example of what I didn’t know:

I wouldn’t have been able to explain what a tunic, pashmina, cape, cardigan, parka, trench, bomber, or anorak is even though a Google search shows that all these terms are used.

Tunic – a long or short women’s blouse or dress, I don’t know how else to define it.

Pashmina – a wide scarf often used as a shoulder wrap.

Cardigan – a knitted sweater with buttons or without any fastenings.

Parka – a long jacket with a hood, often insulated.

Trench – a classic long coat with a belt and double-breasted buttoning, with a lapel collar.

Bomber – a short jacket with elastic at the waist and sleeves.

Anorak – a lightweight hooded jacket that fastens only halfway up.

Here are just a few coats from the list above:

Balmacaan — a single-breasted long coat model with raglan sleeves and a placket completely hiding the buttons.

Bushlat — a shortened double-breasted coat adorned with two rows of buttons and a turned-down English collar with lapels

Duster — a women’s lightweight, long, loose-fitting coat model with a belt instead of fastenings, worn like a robe

Duffle Coat — informal single-breasted coat of straight cut above the knee. Recognizable attributes of the model: patch pockets, hood, and toggle closures instead of traditional buttons.

Inverness — a vintage-style elongated coat with loose fit and sleeves covered with a cape.

Cape – a sleeveless cloak that fastens at the throat.

Covercoat — a single-breasted coat made from a namesake dense fabric. Recognizable for its pointed lapels and traditional decoration of four or five parallel rows of stitching at the bottom of the garment and on the sleeve edges.

Cocoon — a model of men’s or women’s oversized coat that narrows towards the bottom and broadens at the waist with dropped shoulders and a rounded silhouette.

But I started with culottes. It’s somewhat historical, but a Google search shows that not always, and there’s plenty of such items in marketplaces. So, there are certainly loads of unknown words to me. Starting with short-pants

Culotte – short or wide knee-length trousers. Nowadays, these are wide-legged women’s trousers, usually longer than the knee.

Coper — a long leather coat with a belt, visually resembling a raincoat. Most popular in men’s wardrobe, but women’s models are also available.

Manto — a spacious trapezoidal coat-wrap with no through fastenings, made of fur or with corresponding trim.

Capri are essentially the same as trousers, the difference being only that their length reaches the mid-calfement.hasMore …