Australian words: Encyclopedia II - Australian words - Clothes

Australian words - Clothes

• cardie – cardigan
• dacks (daks) – trousers, most likely derived from the London clothier Daks (founded in 1894). Trackie dacks are tracksuit pants, and underdacks are underpants or knickers. To dak someone is to pull their pants down.
• flannie or flanno – A shirt made from flanelette, most often with a check pattern.
• moccies – Moccasin-style footwear.
• singlet - a sleeveless undershirt, known in British English as a vest and in US English as a tank top (or, colloquially, as a "wife beater").
• thongs – flip-flops, cf. NZE jandals. The undergarment is called a g-string in Australia.
• ugg boots – sheepskin boot. This word has been trademarked by Deckers Outdoor Corporation in some countries, however, it has always been regarded as a generic word in Australian English.

Australian words - Swimwear

Swimwear is known by different names around Australia. The most some common terms are:

• bathers – the most common term in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and occasionally in other states. From "bathing suit".
• cossie – from "swimming costume". Usage of this name is generally restricted to New South Wales.
• speedos – generic term for men's swimming briefs which originated in Australia, as a brand name (see Speedo). Known colloquially as sluggos, budgie smugglers, dick stickers, dick dacks, dick hangers or dick togs ("DTs" for short).
• swimmers – used mainly in New South Wales. From "swimming costume".
• togs – used mainly in Queensland, but also by some people in Western Australia and Victoria, to describe any type of swimwear.
• trunks – now virtually extinct, formerly used by some people in various regions, to describe any type of swimwear.

Main source: Australian Word Map,

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Clothes", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki