tank suit
Low/HistoricalInformal, historical
Definition
Meaning
A one-piece bathing suit for women, typically sleeveless with shoulder straps.
Historically, a specific style of women's swimwear from the early-to-mid 20th century; sometimes used to refer to any one-piece swimsuit with a simple, athletic cut.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a historical term for early swimwear. In modern contexts, it is often replaced by terms like "one-piece" or "swimsuit."
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is largely historical. No significant difference in usage.
Connotations
Evokes early 20th-century fashion and vintage styles.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use. More likely found in historical texts or discussions of vintage fashion.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
She wore a [tank suit].The [tank suit] was made of wool.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical studies of fashion and costume.
Everyday
Virtually unused. An older person might use it to describe vintage swimwear.
Technical
Used in vintage clothing cataloguing or fashion history.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has a blue tank suit.
- In the old photo, the women are all wearing tank suits.
- The vintage tank suit, though modest by today's standards, was considered liberating in its time.
- The evolution from the cumbersome bathing costumes of the Victorian era to the practical tank suit marked a significant shift in attitudes towards women's sport and leisure.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a military tank – simple, functional, one piece. A tank suit is a simple, one-piece swimsuit.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS ARMOR (providing modesty/coverage).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как "костюм для танка". Это исторический вид купальника.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe a modern athletic swimsuit (use 'racerback' or 'training suit').
- Confusing it with 'tank top'.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'tank suit'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but the term 'tank suit' is historical and refers specifically to the styles popular in the early 20th century, often made from wool or cotton with a simple, sleeveless design.
The name likely comes from 'swimming tank,' an old term for a swimming pool. The suit was worn for swimming in such pools.
No, the term historically and exclusively refers to women's swimwear. Men's one-piece swimwear had different names, like 'swim trunks' or later 'swim briefs.'
It was most popular from the 1910s through the 1940s, before the widespread adoption of new fabrics like nylon and the rise of the bikini.