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Archiver > ABERDEEN > 2006-02 > 1140438134


From: Gavin Bell <>
Subject: Re:[ABERDEEN] 19th Century Dress
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 12:22:31 +0000


Hester wrote:

> ...
> [BTW, in my earlier use of the term "trews", I simply meant
> "trousers", and I was really just trying to avoid my usual
> Canadian term "pants", which a friend warned me has a very
> different meaning in Britain.]

Fair enough. As somebody once perceptively pointed out, one of the
greatest barriers to comprehension between Britain and America is the
English Language, and it looks as if the same applies to Canada!

In Scottish usage, the noun 'trews' is generally coupled with the
adjective 'tartan', and mostly refers, as I suggested, to military dress
uniform.

But in return for this clarification, I probably ought to post one of my
own - in my remarks about old photos of my male ancestors, I referred to
them wearing 'waistcoats'. I believe the equivalent term in N America
would be 'vests'*.


Gavin Bell



* which to us Brits means 'undershirts'!

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