wooly

[Highlander31]

My take on it would be he was referencing woolen underwear.

[GG]

My take on it would be he was referencing woolen underwear.

Reading the posts here, I just came to remember that we used to have a similar expression in Danish, "tid til de uldne" = time for the woollen (ones).

It was a metaphor for saying it was cold but referred to underwear.

I had quite forgotten it. It must be half a century since I last heard it. I'm sure he kindly referred to better wear underwear on a cold day like that.

Greg - already a 65 years old kilt wearing Dane

[CMcG]

I would also imagine that he was referring to wool underwear in an oblique statement related to the ever popular subject of what is worn under the kilt.

What is more interesting, perhaps, is NewGuise's difficulty in interpreting the speaker. We know that the comment was made with a grin but perhaps it was the tone of voice that was so difficult to place.

Last summer, I was kilted and strolling down the street with my lovely lady Bee after a local Celtic festival. An adolescent boy called out to me from amidst a group of his peers and said "nice kilt," which should, on paper, have been a compliment. The tone of his voice was somewaht inscrutable though I think I detected admiration, disdain, awe, and jealousy all wrapped into one!

Sometimes people just don't know what to make of a kilt but, by golly, they sure seem obliged to try

[CDNSushi]

Sometimes people just don't know what to make of a kilt but, by golly, they sure seem obliged to try

Yup. It's very cultural, though. Around here people don't know any more about what to make of a kilt than back home, but NO ONE, EVER in a million, zillion years would yell "Nice kilt!" in a sarcastic tone, (or any other tone) for that matter. Nevermind yell, even. No one would say a thing. The most you would ever get would be a brave soul walking up to you and asking questions about your attire.

The one (and only) time I ever got anything resembling a negative comment, was back home in Edmonton, walking across a parking lot at night while drunk bar patrons were leaving and some boor, from the safety of his car full of friends felt the need to roll down the window and yell, "Nice skirt, fag!" I just chuckled to myself and didn't even break stride or turn my head. I'm glad I helped that young man get that off his chest. Must've been quite a burden holding that in.

[Lallans]

If you're out in the Canadian cold for a long time and you might get damp, you needs yer woolies on- as stated earlier, they do stay warm when wet, and far more effectively than any of the tacky new age materials that supposedly do the same thing. No doubt the passerby was thinking along those lines, since you state you were opening your jacket, thereby suggesting you were getting sweaty.

This also give me a chance to ask again if any fellow Canadians know where Stanfields heavy-weight woolies are available! (if ordered online here in Canuckistan, the 'shipping and handling' almost equals the cost of the garment).

[RB51]

This also give me a chance to ask again if any fellow Canadians know where Stanfields heavy-weight woolies are available! (if ordered online here in Canuckistan, the 'shipping and handling' almost equals the cost of the garment).

I've been able to pick up Stanfields from Mark's Work Wearhouse. I don't know if there are any Mark's where you are, but if not, I'd be happy to see if our local store has what you want.

Laurie

[NewGuise]

What is more interesting, perhaps, is NewGuise's difficulty in interpreting the speaker. We know that the comment was made with a grin but perhaps it was the tone of voice that was so difficult to place.

No, just what he said. I had heard the term woolies in regard to long underwear, which I clearly was not wearing, although I was clearly wearing "something wooly." But yes, I assumed he meant underwear -hence my muttered response re the kilt being enough. I respond far better to insult and jocular put-down, since I expect that from people, and not just when wearing a kilt.

Tomorrow morning, though, early in the morning, I leave for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and I have packed nothing wooly whatsoever. I have not gone kiltless for more than 3 days at a stretch since September,so this will be strange. I may go into withdrawal and start wearing a sarong.

Stay warm, folks. And happy. And kilted.

[MacBean]

My take on it would be he was referencing woolen underwear.

I agree. Growing up even on the south coast of Britain, all our underwear was wool.