Clothing Definitions — definitions of garments and clothing terms from Apparel Search
A Windbreaker, or windcheater in the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth countries, is a thin outer coat designed to resist wind chill and light rain. It is usually of light construction, characteristically made of some type of glossy synthetic material and often incorporating an elastic waistband and zipper. It rarely includes a hood, and the term windbreaker, used primarily in North America, is actually a genericized trademark.
The term "windbreaker", used primarily in North America, is actually a genericized trademark. The term "windcheater" is used in the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth countries.
Windbreaker also refers to any glossy synthetic material used to make clothing.
The term Windbreaker pants describes pants made out of a glossy synthetic material with an elastic around the waist.
Mackintosh (raincoat)
|
|
| The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/windbreaker). 1/6/06 |
The windbreaker's job is narrow and it does it with almost nothing: block the wind, shrug off light rain, weigh next to nothing and pack into a pocket or a corner of a bag when not needed. Wind chill, not cold itself, is the enemy it was designed against — a thin shell over a sweater restores most of the warmth that moving air strips away, which is why the garment is a staple for runners, cyclists, sailors and travellers in changeable climates. The elastic waistband and cuffs are functional, sealing the openings where wind would otherwise pump in and out with movement.
Construction follows the brief. Glossy synthetic fabrics — nylon and polyester in tight weaves — are naturally wind-resistant, slightly water-shedding and light enough for the shell role. There is little insulation and often no lining; layering underneath supplies the warmth, and the windbreaker supplies the weather seal. Hoods are rare in the classic form because the garment predates, and mostly serves, activities where a hood flaps and catches.
Windbreaker is a case study in genericized trademarks: a brand name so successful it became the category name in North America, while Britain kept its own descriptive word, windcheater, for the same coat. The word has since loosened further — windbreaker can describe the glossy synthetic fabric itself, and windbreaker pants apply the same material and idea below the waist. When a product name becomes the language's name for the thing, the garment has usually won its niche completely, as this light shell coat has.
A windbreaker is a thin outer coat designed to resist wind chill and light rain. It is usually of light construction, characteristically made of glossy synthetic material, often with an elastic waistband and zipper, and it rarely includes a hood.
Windcheater is the term used in the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth countries for the same garment called a windbreaker in North America. Windbreaker itself began as a trademark and became generic.
Windbreaker pants are pants made of the same glossy synthetic material as a windbreaker jacket, with elastic around the waist — a light shell layer worn against wind and light rain, often as part of a tracksuit-style set.