Everything about Anorak totally explained
» This article is about the article of clothing. For the colloquial meaning, see Anorak (slang).
An
anorak or
parka is a type of heavy
jacket with a
hood, often lined with
fur or
fake fur, so as to protect the face from a combination of
freezing temperatures and
wind.
This kind of garment, originally made from
caribou or
seal was invented by the
Caribou Inuit,
Inuit (
Eskimo) of the
Arctic region, who needed clothing that would protect them from
wind chill and wet while
hunting and
kayaking. The word
anorak comes from the
Kalaallisut word
anoraq, while the word
parka is of
Aleut origin. Certain types of Inuit anoraks have to be regularly coated with
fish oil to keep their water resistance.
The words
anorak and
parka are now often used interchangeably, but when first introduced, they described somewhat different garments, and the distinction is still maintained by some. Strictly speaking, an anorak is a waterproof jacket with a hood and drawstrings at the waist and cuffs, and a parka is a knee-length cold-weather jacket or coat; typically stuffed with
down or very warm
synthetic fiber, and with a fur-lined hood. Originally an anorak specifically implied a pull-over jacket without a
zipper,
button or
frogged opening, but this distinction is now largely lost, and many garments with a full-length front opening are now described as anoraks.
In the 1960s, the
fishtail parka became a symbol of the
mod subculture. Due to their practicality, cheapness and availability from
army surplus shops, the parka was seen as the ideal garment for fending off the elements when on the mod's vehicle of choice, the
scooter. Its place in popular culture was assured by newspaper pictures of parka-clad mods during the
Bank Holiday riots of the 1960s.
In Britain, the word
anorak is also a somewhat pejorative term for people whose interests are perceived to be
nerdy, or who have more expertise in an arcane topic than seems rational.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Anorak'.
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