Scots-Gaelic?

[KnottedYet]

On this side of the pond it seems like an anorak is a pull-over windbreaker-thing and a parka is an insulated full-zip thing.

[Duck on Wheels]

A parka has fur round the hood and is longer.

I think both parkas and anoraks can have fur around the hood, or not as the case may be, but I think parkas open chin-to-hem whereas anoraks open only wide enough at the neckline to pull them over your head. But I could be wrong. And people tend to use both terms pretty much interchangeably.

[Duck on Wheels]

Wikipedia says we're both right. They have different lengths, and once upon a time anoraks didn't have full length openings:

"An anorak or parka is a type of heavy jacket with a hood, often lined with fur or fun fur, so as to protect the face from a combination of freezing temperatures and wind.

This kind of garment was invented by the indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic region, who needed clothing that would protect them from windchill and wet while hunting and kayaking. The word anorak comes from the Greenlandic Inuit anoraq, while the word parka is of Aleut origin. Underneath the anorak the Inuit wear warm clothes. 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; while a parka is a knee-length cold-weather jacket or coat, typically stuffed with down or very warm synthetic fibre, and having 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."

[margo49]

Since you are closer to the Arctic Circle you are likely right, Duck-ie

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

But the nerdiest thing is people who tie the hood cord in a bow under their chinny-chin-chin (imo)

Uh-oh.

(quickly untying little bow under my chin, trying to look casual about it...)

[margo49]

Uh-oh.

(quickly untying little bow under my chin, trying to look casual about it...)

What you *can * do is gather up your hood and then tie 2 little knots in the cord right by the hood eyelets so it stays like that.

[Bruno28]

Inuit anoraks have to be regularly coated with fish oil to keep their water resistance.

[/COLOR]

When I was a kid my anorak was made of bri-nylon (a synthetic fabric now defunct) thus negating the need for regular coating with fish oil. I no longer own either an anaorak or a parka but I do have a rather nifty waterproof jacket which one of my friends likes to refer to as a 'kagool' (which word also has nerdish overtones here).

Strictly speaking it's not a kagool as kagools don't have a full length zip.

Actually, having re-read this I find I may indeed be a bit of an anorak

Margo - you need to behave.

[KnottedYet]

When I lived in Fife we all had cagoules. Mine was yellow... sigh. I loved my cagoule. For a while LL Bean made something like my old cagoule, and I bought one for old times sake. They don't make it any more. ...sigh again.

It was a pullover with a hood. Reached to mid thigh. Had a drawstring waist. Velcroed kangaroo pocket on the front chest, and behind the kangaroo pocket was a tunnel pocket (like on a sweatshirt) that was fleece-lined for warming your hands. Pit zips.

Kept mine going for about 15 years, and then it finally fell apart. (I think it was the "trail model" jacket, but they don't make the cagoule style any more)

[Geonz]

Gosh. I just wear two jackets Or if it's really, really frigid - a coat. I've found that once they start calling 'em parkas or anoraks, you have to pay more.

[Bad JuJu]

What a fun thread! Unfortunately, I'm knee-deep in freshman essays, and many of them barely exhibit control of their own language, never mind any others! So back to the paper-grading salt mines.....