'Tanks'

[Laird_M]

I've done a search but not really found an answer...

A lot of people refer to a kttl as a 'tank'.

Ok, I realise that massed ranks of 'Loud MacLeod' on a bright, sunny day could be construed as contra to the Geneva Convention, but why gvie it the name of a weapon?

[Bugbear]

It's in the FAQ.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...q#faq_faq_abbr

Hope that helps.

[Jock Scot]

The word "tank" was coined by a member of Xmarks(I cannot remember his name, sorry) to describe a traditional tartan ,16 oz cloth, knife pleated, 8 yard, hand sewn kilt. In other words built like a, well,---tank.

[English Bloke]

I don't use the word myself. I call it a 16oz 8yd knife pleated Kilt. I enjoy the resonance of putting that phrase together.

[Laird_M]

OK, thanks guys.

Didn't think to try the FAQs, and as someone who writes FAQs for work...

[cryerelizabeth]

The word "tank" was coined by a member of Xmarks(I cannot remember his name, sorry) to describe a traditional tartan ,16 oz cloth, knife pleated, 8 yard, hand sewn kilt. In other words built like a, well,---tank.

So I guess the one I'm making now would be considered a tank if it was made of real heavy wool instead of cheaper Hobby Lobby fabric.

[OC Richard]

Odd, in a way, to coin a new term for something which has always had its own term: "kilt".

In the 19th century, and up to the time when I started wearing kilts in the 1970s, the term "kilt" meant one thing: an 8-yard handsewn kilt made of kiltweight wool tartan (or in fairly rare cases such as the kilts of the pipers of the Irish regiments, or the London Scottish, kiltweight selfcoloured wool).

When casual kilts and utility kilts and whatnot came along they were always referred to in that way, the word "kilt" preceeded by a modifying word.

I suppose this process has always been around: a kilt wasn't called a "phillamore" or "great kilt" until the newfangled "phillabeg" or "little kilt" came along, and the terms "phillamore" and "great kilt" were created in the process of backformation. (Comparitives aren't needed until there's something else to compare to.)

[Tobus]

In the 19th century, and up to the time when I started wearing kilts in the 1970s, the term "kilt" meant one thing: an 8-yard handsewn kilt made of kiltweight wool tartan (or in fairly rare cases such as the kilts of the pipers of the Irish regiments, or the London Scottish, kiltweight selfcoloured wool).

But before that, it also referred to 4-yard box pleats, right? So it's not like the original term "kilt" was specific to 8-yard knife-pleated versions.

[Bugbear]

What? Isn't anyone going to say something like, "You're velcome."

[Tobus]

What? Isn't anyone going to say something like, "You're velcome."

It took me a second, and I had to look at the thread title again, but I finally got it!!!