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Here’s a mystery I need help solving: why in the world are bathing suits (swimsuits, whatever you wanna call them) known in New Zealand as togs?
I’m sure there must be some etymological reason, but I can’t figure it out. If you can help me w/ this, I’d appreciate it. Send me your insights!
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So in British English togs are clothes for a special occasion, sometimes meaning a costume. (http://www.memidex.com/togs)
I guess in NZ they would refer to bathing suits as “swimming costumes” so at some point the two got conflated…
FROM THE OED (look at the quote from 1971):
c. Austral. and N.Z. colloq. A swimming costume.
1930 V. Palmer Passage i. x. 83 ‘You nip in and get my togs.’‥ He was much more at ease in his bathing~trunks than in his‥suit and slippery shoes.
1935 ‘J. Guthrie’ Little Country xiii. 216 We‥tore down to a quiet beach, stripped off our clothes, and plunged in.‥ We didn’t bother about togs.
1944 G. Texidor in D. M. Davin N.Z. Short Stories (1953) 313 Mum came over and said‥they could put on their togs. But they mustn’t stay in for long, it was getting chilly.
1959 M. Shadbolt New Zealanders 96 ‘I forgot my togs. I left them at the other place.’ ‘Never mind, you can swim in your shorts, can’t you?’
1971 N.Z. Listener 15 Feb. 14/5 ‘I haven’t got a costume.’‥‘Go back and get your togs.’
They also apparently call them “bathers” there too.
-SEAAAAAAAAAN
Never heard it called a “swimming costume,” tbh.
Well it is listed as such in the OED so I don’t know what else to tell ya!
Also, I am assuming you already looked up the British English etymology (since you are the one that told me about Etymology Online) but, if not:
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=tog&allowed_in_frame=0
Togman/Toggery/toga. Yaddayadda.