waistcoat vs vest

0There are differences from one side of the Atlantic to the other as well. I'm going to let a BrE speaker answer, because I think that's what you will want.0-

0GG, could you give your American view first so I've something to compare with?02br
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00Thanks0-

0We don't use the word "waistcoat" - we think of if as something that the White Rabbit would wear in 01i00Alice in Wonderland.02i02br
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00A vest is one of two things: either it's part of a man's three-piece suit: pants, jacket, and vest (note that our British friends wouldn't use the term "pants" either, I don't believe). It's the part that goes over the

0Hi,02br
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00In BrE (unless it has changes since I lived there), a vest is the undergarment that you wear under your shirt, while a waistcoat is, eg, the sleeveless upper part of a 3-piece suit.02br
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00What I call a 'waistcoat', I believe Americans call a 'vest'.02br
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00Clive0-

1font01i00 a man's three-piece suit: pants, jacket, and vest (note that our British friends wouldn't use the term "pants" either, I don't believe)02i02font02br
00Correct, we would not use 'pants' in the above. 02br
00In British English the term 'pants' = underpants worn by males.02br
00You can also call some

We wouldn't use vest either for a waistcoat. A vest is what both women and men wear in the winter under their shirts and jumpers. I wouldn't use the term pants either as trousers, or as meaning no good. I would simply say 'no good' or 'useless'.

And yes, be careful, there is a difference between British English and English English. The Scots, Irish and the Welsh are not the same, wit

Please, don't be so picky about the way you use English English, British English, American English, Scottish English, ... it's obvious that there are going to be differences depending on the place where you are. Lift and elevator, trousers, pants... it's the same with any language that is alive... Even Latin had various forms...

You waste people's time when they're just looking for an an

yes. Waistcoats do not neccesarily match the suit pieces it is worn with. Waistcoats also have lapel collars. Vests are part of the 3 piece ensemble.

You are correct, in America you can call it a vest, however in England you may call i a waistcoat, now in Canada, where there is a definite British influence in North America you should be able to use both.

Another example is the what American call cookie is a biscuit in England and a cookie in England is a biscuit in America, so in Canada I suppose you can use either......

"Another example is the what American call cookie is a biscuit in England and a cookie in England is a biscuit in America, so in Canada I suppose you can use either......"

That is not entirely correct - what Americans call a biscuit, the British call a cracker, cookie is only used in the UK for American style biscuits