"Wife-beater" as article of clothing

[Bob Haas]

Amanda,

This topic was discussed on the list not too long ago.  Try the term
"wife-beater" on the ADS-L archives search engine at:

http://www.americandialect.org/adslarchive.shtml

There's some interesting stuff there, but I don't know if anyone ever got to
the actual origins.  Someone suggested Stanley and Stella Kowalski from
Tennessee Williams' A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE; I think that's a good starting
possibility.

bob


> From: Amanda Adams <Podko at AOL.COM>
> Reply-To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 12:45:00 EDT
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: "Wife-beater" as article of clothing
>
> Does anyone know the origin of the word "wife-beater" to describe a man's
> sleeveless undershirt, as in "He came downstairs wearing his boxers and a
> wife-beater." ?
>
> Amanda
> Tuscaloosa, AL