boilers suit
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A one-piece garment consisting of trousers and a sleeved top, typically made of a durable material like cotton or denim, worn over regular clothes to protect them during dirty, messy, or industrial work.
Usage
A boilers suit is worn as protective outerwear. It is designed to be put on over one's ordinary clothing and is often used by mechanics, engineers, factory workers, and painters. It is fastened with buttons or a zipper down the front.
Examples
- The mechanic zipped up his boilers suit before crawling under the car.
- For the factory tour, all visitors were required to wear a boilers suit over their clothes.
- She keeps a clean boilers suit in her locker for any maintenance tasks.
Advanced Usage
- The term can imply a standardized uniform for manual labor or specific trades.
- In some contexts, it is associated with utilitarian fashion or workwear aesthetics.
Variants and Related Words
- Coveralls (noun): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably in American English.
- Overalls (noun): In British English, this can be synonymous with boilers suit. (In American English, "overalls" typically refer to a garment with a bib and straps worn over clothes).
- Work suit (noun): A more general term.
- Protective clothing (noun phrase): A broader category that includes boilers suits.
Synonyms
- Coveralls
- Overalls (primarily UK usage for this meaning)
- Jumpsuit (though this can also refer to a fashion garment)
Notes on Meaning
The name originates from the garment being worn by workers who maintained coal-fired boilers. Its primary function is protection, not fashion, though it is distinguished from more specialized protective gear (like hazmat suits) by being for general dirty work.
Noun
- a loose protective coverall or smock worn over ordinary clothing for dirty work