. There is no such thing as a British accent. And the decision became clear:In the 1800s, artists and workmen often wore a large thick shirt called a “ The word "jumper" when used to mean a sweater comes from an obsolete term for a large, loose men's jacket called a jump. What they originated, is what goes. Cable knits — sometimes called Aran or fisherman sweaters — are made using cable needles which help in raising yarns in specific patterns to achieve crossing textures on the surface of the fabric. I’m 66, my dad’s folks were Irish and he called a sweater a jumper as far back as I can remember. By the way a windcheater in the UK is a windproof jacket usually with a zip and an elasticated welt. In Australia it would only apply to a knitted sweater. It is English. ( Single tear sliding down cheek as I type this). Any idea why we’ve chosen over time to name it for what happens when you use it when you shouldn’t (when the temperature doesn’t call for it)? This type of sweater is a cardigan with a V-neck, and it is usually a button-down sweater. Northern and Southern Welsh people speak English with different accents, or they speak Welsh. What Are the Steps of Presidential Impeachment? Point of reference: http://the-toast.net/2014/03/19/a-linguist-explains-british-accents-of-yore/. The key difference between jumper and jacket is that jackets have a front opening whereas jumpers are put on over the head since they don’t have an opening. Dear Word Detective: I recently had one of those interesting British vs. American language moments, when I realized that many Brits call sweaters “jumpers.” That made me giggle (particularly as the speaker, a grown man, referred to his “stripy jumper”), since I will always associate jumpers with rugrats, for better or worse. So nil points so far. There is American English, UK English, Canadian English, etc. Pullover: again is … Then there is always; Thongs, Cordial etc. […] The Word Detective: Jumper / Sweater  […]. How did “toilet” get changed to “restroom” in the “American” language? It is an old expression referring to sheep who jump. This is especially true in Europe, where English has largely taken over the former roles of French and (much earlier) Latin as a common language used to conduct business and diplomacy, share scientific and technological information, and otherwise communicate across national boundaries. You were perfectly right to say that the Brits, did not find/found America. French is still a primary language in much of LA, and Spanish is spoken all over the United States both from newcomers and in areas that were settled in the 1700 and 1800s. Sweaters are worn by adults and children of all genders, often over a shirt, blouse, T-shirt, or other top, but sometimes next to the skin. If anything, perhaps the first true Americans were the Asians who crossed over around 15,000bc from what we now call the baring straights and it wasn’t until another 16,500 years after this that the first waves of Europeans started arriving. This kind of “training” is, of course, known to be very dangerous today (and produces only dehydration, not weight loss). Created by SimpliSafe, an American security company, this festive blue and white jumper, complete with snowflake and padlock patterns, can help keep overzealous relatives at bay. Jumper definition: A jumper is a warm knitted piece of clothing which covers the upper part of your body and... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Sweaters can be defined by many characteristics, most notably the cut or style, the pattern, or the knit. Michael Lewis above said it best: “What started as a light-hearted post…turned into a slagging match…”. The sweater was associated with the roll neck and in my mind, associated with Naval and military types ( again films drove this thought) and outdoor, cold weather types like farmers, shepherds etc. Differentiating between a ‘British’ accent and a ‘Scottish’ accent is meaningless! Then there’s the idiocy that they all seem to possess that prevents them from understanding that, unlike their tiny, tiny, little country, the United States is vast, which leads to many different pronunciations of the same word in different regions. Harry Patch is a man who died in 2009 and was a British soldier who fought in WW1 (collectively all those men were referred to as Tommies). Who wants to wear something that makes you sweat? Here in America, Some areas of Canada, the non indigenous people of Australia and other countries all speak English, but each country has its own flavor of English. In North American English a jumper is known as a sweater or pullover. If over-sensitive Poms read it that way, they might get less miffed and more amused. Aussies use the term Jumper for wollen Winter garment. ..the Brits are still mad at us because they lost in 1776. Tough to see, as it was the first sentence of the very next thing you would have read after your hissy-fit had subsided. In sport we have separate national football teams for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The only sniffling and whining I can see comes from Andy and Lost in Translation?? I was told in the 60s that the Welsh for “telly” was tellywelly which had myself and my Welsh cousins in fits (of laughter, not hissy) but I think our legs were being pulled. Partially due to United States influence, English gradually took on the status of a global lingua franca in the second half of the 20th century. I’m not really sure if this is a joke question. It later became "jumper" when referring to any knitted or crocheted top in England, or "sweater" in the United States when it became regular winter wear for outdoor types, especially those playing sports. The primary “American language” but we have no single language here, and no single country founded us. But the business with sweaters being called “jumpers” threw me for a loop the first time I ran into it in conversation. Sometimes they’re called jumpers or even pullovers. A fairly substantial land mass “found” most likely by the Vikings, but certainly found by Columbus. Most people wear “Hoodies” today. Thank you for such a great post and sorry that ‘Beth’ had to start a flame when she brought up – “An interesting opinion, however would just like to point out that ‘American language’ in English, from England and America was found by Britain therefore if there is a ‘normal first language’ it is British.”. Called the "Social Distancing Sweater", it is armed with motion sensors that monitor a 1.8 … Thank you, ‘Word Detective’ for a neutral and educating look into the world of words and language. In the US this is a similar item, however, a cardigan with buttons can also be called a sweater in the US. The garment is supposed to keep you warm and presumably comfortable. A woolen jacket or jersey worn by athletes. I am English and I am also British and my passport says I am a citizen of the United Kingdom. In the United States, this definition is what usually comes to mind. Tom. It’s a mystery. Victoria,there is no ‘politically correct’ term for the UK, there is only a right term or a wrong term according to the context. Your comments frequently make an invaluable contribution to the story of words and phrases in everyday usage over many years. As America’s always think they are the only country to exist in this world, they think they can go change a language that they inherited. A knitted pullover is called a jumper in Britsh usage but a sweater in American. Learn more. In rugby the same, except Northern Ireland is combined with the Republic of Ireland as simply ‘Ireland’. They come in all sorts of iterations … Actually, in American usage, any moderately heavy, knitted upper garment is called a sweater, whether it's a pullover or a cardigan (which opens down the front--this may also be British usage, but I'm not sure). Q From Helen Schupp: I’m curious about different meanings of the word jumper as an article of clothing. The use of “sweater” in its modern sense of “heavy knitted top worn for warmth” had appeared by the early years of the 20th century. Early Modern English – the language used by Shakespeare – is dated from around 1500. Modern English proper, similar in most respects to that spoken today, was in place by the late 17th century. "Sweater" is a noun which is often translated as "el suéter", and "jumper" is a noun which is often translated as "el jumper". They were popular in the 20th century, particularly in the 1970s in the UK, and are again growing in popularity in this century. And in point of fact, the evolution of the language has diverged much more on our side of the pond. The sweaters, which are limited to 20 per style, are called “keepsake knits”. And let’s not forget that English is an amalgam of many other languages based on the incredible number of invasions both of and by the various people in the British Isles? So when I see idiotic comments like this one: “It is not the words used that bothers me, it is the pronunciation of multi syllabic words. “It’s a 4ply or fingering weight jumper knitted from the collar down," he explained. I add to the debase on Jumper, Ganda. WHat is the politically correct term nowadays? Although we use “fleese” if it is made of fleece. The cardigan sweater was named after James Thomas Brudenell, the seventh Earl of Cardigan and military captain who led his troops at The Charge of the Light Brigade into the Valley of Death. The Dutch first settled New York, the Spanish first settled Florida and what is now California, and the French settled Louisiana and much of the Mississippi. A sweater, or a jumper or a pullover depending on where you are from, is a knitted garment that covers the upper body and arms. Please note that comments are moderated, and will sometimes take a few days to appear. The History of the United States' Golden Presidential Dollars, How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Changed Schools and Education in Lasting Ways. London is one of the fastest-changing places in the world for language. Yeah well, sod off with your codswallop, tossers! If it was cut & sewn from a knitted fabric though, such as fleece it would be called a windcheater in Victoria or a sloppy joe I think in NSW if my memory is correct. In British English, a sweater may also be called a pullover, jumper or jersey. At the Olympics, by contrast, we have a Great Britain and Northern Ireland team. England? Bethany, you may have been too busy sniffling about the second paragraph to read the first sentence of the third paragraph, where the author mentions that he was ‘just kidding’ about what he had said in the second paragraph. They only took up the French word for the sport en mass in the 1980s. Lol! One who, or that which, causes to sweat; as: A sudorific. You might like that association, of course, but if you want to avoid it then dressing in decidedly urban colours is a good first step. Again, teachers and academics are associated with roll neck sweaters, often with leather patches on the elbows. Some people need to read the description that the Word Detective is “Words and language in a humorous vein”. A sweater on the other hand, is a knitted garment that is made from the wool of a sheep and available in many shapes and designs. It's a very comfortable shape that allows for easy movement, which is why you will often see it in athletic wear. It’s a Germanic grammar with tons of vocabulary with Latin roots from Spanish and French, and then mashed up and morphed by centuries of colonization on six continents with even more languages. We can’T even claim a homogenous “American” English. It is not the words used that bothers me, it is the pronunciation of multi syllabic words. Also academics such as teachers or college/university types. @TheRoryJohn In the US, this refers to a type of dress with a pinafore-style top worn with a blouse or shirt; when my Australian daughter-in-law uses it, she means what I, an American English speaker, call a sweater … V neck so you could see the shirt and tie underneath. In American English a jumper is a sleeveless, collarless dress that you wear over a blouse, shirt or knitted top. You many HAVE to stop the car and threaten to leave them at the side of the road!! First and foremost, it’s important to remember that sweaters might not always be called sweaters, depending on where you’re from. Cannot remember wearing crewe necks too often as a kid and for some reason, I tend to associated the crewe neck with 3 things. We move forward with life and not live in the past. In America the word jumper refers to a sleeveless pullover dress that you wear over a blouse or sweater and it’s often made of corduroy. Sweaters can be defined by many characteristics, most notably the cut or … In the United States however, "jumper" refers to a style of women's sleeveless dress, worn over a blouse or shirt, and "jersey" refers to … The UK & Ireland but a sweater if you mean the British reference “ jumper for! 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