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  3. Textiles / Clothing / Fashion

marcel

English translation: vest top

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:marcel
English translation:vest top
Entered by: Sarah Bessioud

15:20 May 24, 2011
French to English translations [PRO]
Textiles / Clothing / Fashion / Man sleeveless shirt
French term or phrase: marcel
In American English we call this a wife beater. Is there an equivalent in British English?
jmleger
Local time: 03:21
vest top
Explanation:
If this is what you're after....
http://www.google.de/search?q=mens vest top&hl=de&client=saf...
Selected response from:

Sarah Bessioud
Germany
Local time: 10:21
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5vest top
Sarah Bessioud
4 +4singlet, tank top
Rachel Fell
3 +2singlet / undershirt / vest
Sandra Petch
4wife beater
emiledgar


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
vest top


Explanation:
If this is what you're after....
http://www.google.de/search?q=mens vest top&hl=de&client=saf...

Sarah Bessioud
Germany
Local time: 10:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
singlet / undershirt / vest


Explanation:
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.



Sandra Petch
Local time: 10:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 35

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bourth (X): Singlet for me. Now, "doublet" IS old-fashioned!
41 mins
agree  Evans (X)
5 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
wife beater


Explanation:
In my experience, this comes closest to the feeling of "marcel"

emiledgar
Belgium
Local time: 10:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 54

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
singlet, tank top


Explanation:
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

Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:21
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 63

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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 :-)
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