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Je me repère
quantièmes mensuels identiques

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

marcel

English translation:

vest top

Added to glossary by Sarah Bessioud
May 24, 2011 15:20
13 yrs ago
5 viewers *
French term

marcel

French to English Other Textiles / Clothing / Fashion Man sleeveless shirt
In American English we call this a wife beater. Is there an equivalent in British English?
Proposed translations (English)
4 +5 vest top
4 +4 singlet, tank top
3 +2 singlet / undershirt / vest
4 wife beater
Change log

Jun 7, 2011 10:15: Sarah Bessioud Created KOG entry

Discussion

jmleger (asker) May 24, 2011:
Is there not a more colloquial expression? dans le registre de marcel et de wife beater?

Proposed translations

+5
1 min
Selected

vest top

Peer comment(s):
agree David Goward : or just "vest"
8 mins
agree Sandra Petch : or as David says, just "vest"
12 mins
agree Gail Bond : I prefer vest top to differentiate it from underwear.
18 mins
agree Sylvain Lourme : Yes, vest (top) or tank top. It's not worn as underwear. Note that this is a slightly humorous term in French, a fashion shop would never use this word, I don't think.
10 hrs
agree codestrata
16 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+2
13 mins

singlet / undershirt / vest

I think the Brits would call it a singlet (maybe old-fashioned?) or just a vest and in the US it would be an undershirt.

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Note added at 16 mins (2011-05-24 15:37:02 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeveless_shirt

A sleeveless shirt, singlet or vest, also known as a tank top, is a shirt manufactured without sleeves, or one where the sleeves have been cut off.
In American English, a tank top is a sleeveless garment that can be worn by either gender. It is often worn under the shirt as underwear, although more colorful and well-designed tank tops are usually worn as an outer shirt. The term is also used in Australian English, although the term singlet is usually used to refer to the garment, which likewise is a less common term used in the United States, usually reserved for athletic shirts. In British English, the term vest is used, while tank top refers to a sleeveless pullover.

Peer comment(s):
agree Bourth (X) : Singlet for me. Now, "doublet" IS old-fashioned!
41 mins
agree Evans (X)
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

wife beater

In my experience, this comes closest to the feeling of "marcel"
Peer comment(s):
neutral Evans (X) : I've never heard this expression used in British English
4 hrs
agree Catharine Cellier-Smart : agree with Gilla, in British English this would refer to a person rather than anything else
6 hrs
disagree David Goward : Sorry, the asker wanted a UK English term. This is not the term used in the UK (I'd never even heard of it used for a vest until the other day)
14 hrs
Something went wrong...
+4
9 mins

singlet, tank top

I'd ever heard of a wife beater meaning this...

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/17/messages/1251.ht...

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39641576811

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Note added at 10 mins (2011-05-24 15:30:14 GMT)
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or sleevelss t-shirt

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Note added at 24 mins (2011-05-24 15:44:50 GMT)
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or sleevelss vest if undergarment

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Note added at 16 hrs (2011-05-25 08:05:25 GMT)
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Puma Mens Tank Top Black
http://www.mandmdirect.com/productdetails.aspx?PC=PU1975&lid...

various terms used here - tank, tank top, singlet, sleevelss t-shirt, etc.
http://www.jjbsports.com/search?keywords=tank top

http://www.jjbsports.com/search?keywords=sleeveless

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Note added at 16 hrs (2011-05-25 08:16:19 GMT)
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Hanes Fit-t Tank Top Mens T-Shirt
http://www.jklclothing.co.uk/r/p-fitt_shirt_tank_top-40.aspx

tank, tank top, singlet, vest
http://www.jjbsports.com/search?keywords=tank top

http://www.jjbsports.com/search?keywords=sleeveless

http://www.jjbsports.com/search?keywords=mens tank
Peer comment(s):
agree Sandra Petch : Your answer wasn't showing when I posted mine (honest!). Not sure about tank top, aren't they generally sleeveless sweaters?
5 mins
not sure - I think of them like that too (1970s), but have lately seen Nike, etc., ones - thanks Sandra!
agree Didier Fourcot : Often seen also the spelling "tanktop": http://www.daz3d.com/i/shop/itemdetails/?item=8389 http://www.daz3d.com/i/shop/itemdetails/?item=12020
28 mins
Thank you Didier :-)
agree Tony M : But depends on how wide the shoulders are: this would suggest quite wide, just 'not sleeves', whereas some 'marcels' actually have quite narrow straps, which really makes them a vest or singlet
32 mins
Thank you Tony!
neutral David Goward : Agree with Sandra re. tank top.
16 hrs
Yes, but the term is used now for this type of garment too
agree Philippa Smith
16 hrs
Thank you Philippa :-)
Something went wrong...
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