Why are sweaters called jumpers

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Community Bot 1. This reminds me of the children's joke. What do get if you cross a sheep with a kangaroo? A woolly jumper. I call all these things a "woolly", even if they aren't made of wool but appear to be. I wonder if there is a further regional differentiation for woolly? See Difference between a sweater and a sweatshirt — ErikE.

Erik: I link to that one from the third word of my question -: — hippietrail. Oops, sorry about that. Show 1 more comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. Fraser Orr Fraser Orr Google gives a good definition for the american usage: A collarless sleeveless dress, typically worn over a blouse.

I think that describes it a bit better. Jumper is as Arlen says in the US. A girl's top with attached shorts or long pants would be called a jump suit in the US.

In the US, there are two different types of garment that can be called a jumper. For adult women and older girls , it is the over-dress described by the other commenters; however, it can also be a garment for babies and toddlers, in which case it's more of an all-purpose term for anything that includes both a top and bottom, all in one piece, like pinafores, rompers, jon-jons, etc.

Perfect answer. AlanEvangelista Putting on and taking off, yes. Mari-Lou A Janet Janet 3 3 silver badges 3 3 bronze badges. Add a comment. In Australia a cardigan differs from a jumper in that it is buttoned up so not pulled over the head as is a jumper.

In the UK also I would say that you can't take sweater to mean cardigan -- if it buttons up, it isn't a sweater, a pullover or a jumper: it's a cardigan! Tony Balmforth Tony Balmforth 41 1 1 bronze badge. Brian Nixon Brian Nixon 3, 13 13 silver badges 24 24 bronze badges. Jerseys and guernseys were originally specific types of thick fisherman's sweaters, made to designs from the respective islands I think 'cable-knit' comes into it, but wouldn't swear to it.

I think guernsey still has this meaning, but jersey has become generic. Here's my take on my own: A jumper is an item of clothing that essentially provides, all in one piece, a skirt and a bodice. Hope this helps. Amy Amy 41 1 1 bronze badge. Cookies and privacy Other words sites Affixes dictionary. The English language is forever changing. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings.

World Wide Words tries to record at least a part of this shifting wordscape by featuring new words, word histories, words in the news, and the curiosities of native English speech. I wore 'jumpers' when I was a kid but they were sleeveless dresses with a button down shirt or a fine guage sweater under. Sweatshirts go in their own category as made from "knit fabrics.

To me, a pullover can be any kind of top that you pull over something else -- so a sweater or sweatshirt, but not a cardigan or hoodie. I've always thought of it as an old-fashioned or country term. Well, before now, that dress would have been a pinafore to me. But I have wikipedia'd it, and a pinafore is truly an apron. There is no back. I was confused by the term jumper as well, for me that means a sleeveless dress that you wear a blouse or turtleneck under.

We learn so much hanging out here! Nicole D, I'm an Aussie and I have always called that style of dress a knit dress, which I realize is quite a broad term. No marine life whatsoever. And a bottom is a fanny. Thank you for clarifying! As a foreign language speaker to you, that is. I find it very challenging to choose the correct terms, so this is very helpful. Ah yes. Many of my relatives have had a bit of a mis-step with the term "fanny" when visiting me in the UK.

Back home it is an inoffensive and even cutesy term for one's rear end. My aunt attracted many stares and titters when shouting at my 4-year-old nephew who was trying to run off I'm learning new terms all the time the longer I live here. I really have the impression that the British have a lot more slang terms in common use than we Americans do. Maybe it's related to the diversity of regional accents and dialects.