A vest is a garment covering the upper body. Often only the back of the upper body though. The term has different meanings around the world:
- Waistcoat
- (a sleeveless under-jacket). This is called a waistcoat in the UK and many Commonwealth countries, or a vest in the US and Canada. It is often worn as part of formal attire, or as the third piece of a lounge suit.
- A-shirt
- (an undergarment, normally worn under a shirt). It is known as an A-shirt or tank top in the US and Canada, vest in the UK and many Commonwealth countries, and singlet in Australia.
- Other sleeveless jackets
- Vest may refer to other outer garments, such as a sports tank top, or a padded sleeveless jacket popular for hunting, commonly known as a hunting vest. Another common variant is the fishing vest which carries a profusion of external pockets for carrying fishing tackle. The term jerkin is also used to refer to this sort of sleeveless outdoor coat.
- A sweater vest (American and Canadian English)
- This may also be called a slipover, sleeveless sweater, or, in British English, a tank top. .
- Banyan
- This Indian garment is commonly called a vest in Indian English.
Read more about Vest: Etymology
Famous quotes containing the word vest:
“And Truth, in sunny vest arrayed,
By whose the tarsels eyes were made;”
—William Collins (17211759)
“Here at the fountains sliding foot,
Or at some fruit-trees mossy root,
Casting the bodys vest aside,
My soul into the boughs does glide:
There, like a bird, it sits and sings,
Then whets and combs its silver wings,
And, till prepared for longer flights,
Waves in its plumes the various light.”
—Andrew Marvell (16211678)