Name for this shirt...

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Mehrgan

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Hi,
Could anyone please give me the right name for this piece of clothing? It's a t-shirt (with a crew neck) without sleeves. I think "shooter shirt" and "muscle shirt" are used, but wanted to know if there are any special names in British English. Thanks.
 

Rover_KE

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I googled 'shooter shirt' and 'muscle shirt' as I'd never heard of them before.

As far as I know we just call them 'sleeveless t-shirts'. Maybe 'athletic/running vests'.

Rover
 

Mehrgan

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Thanks a lot. Are you suggesting that they're used in AmE?
 

Rover_KE

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The names 'shooter/muscle shirts' seem to be American terms.

Somebody will correct me if I'm wrong.

Rover
 

Barb_D

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I've never seen "shooter" before, but muscle shirt is common enough, or just sleeveless shirt (or sleeveless undershirt, since there was a time when men wouldn't go out in public dressed only in that).
 

SoothingDave

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I've never heard "shooter" shirt either.

"Wifebeater" is another, more colorful, term for the shirt.
 

BobK

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I've never heard "shooter" shirt either.

"Wifebeater" is another, more colorful, term for the shirt.

Isn't a wifebeater a string vest worn without a shirt? (it's not a Br Eng word, whatever it means, so I'm no expert).

I've met 'muscle shirt' in an American TV drama; it was obvious, from the context, what it meant, but again it's not a Br. Eng word.

I imagine the fashion arose from young men wearing T-shirts using a turned-up sleeve to carry a pack of cigarettes. More or less by chance it emphasized the biceps, and a designer changed the shape of the T-shirt (as it was becoming unfashionable to carry cigarettes and young men wanted some other excuse for showing off their biceps ;-)).

b
 

Tullia

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Wifebeaters don't have to be string version of the shape, although I think they originally were. It's a more American than UK term, I think, and was recently popularised in both countries among teens via the TV show "The OC" in which the main character, Ryan, practically lived in a white vest of the "wifebeater" style, and it was often referred to as such.

However the OP specified a "crew neck" and I think the vest shape of wifebeaters really is ruled out from being the word we are looking for. A crew neck is a much higher tighter neckline.

EDIT: found a great pic to explain the difference:
v%20neck%20crewneck%20crew%20neck%20sleeveless%20t-shirt%20wifebeater.jpg


A sleeveless crew neck tshirt would look more like this:

000031801


I can't think of a specific word we would use for them in Br. Eng, but I agree with the above poster who mentioned "running vest" - I do associate the shape with sport/athletics quite a bit. Other than that I think you are stuck with "sleeveless crew neck t-shirt" I'm afraid.
 

Mehrgan

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Thanks to all dear posters for the information. Cheers.
 
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