Descrizione di una foto: un uomo che corre

Why is a tank top called “canottiera” in Italian?

Describing a runner’s outfit, this lesson names his canottiera — a sleeveless tank top. The word comes from canottiere, “rower,” because the garment was originally worn by people who practiced canottaggio (rowing): a sleeveless top that wouldn’t restrict the arms. The sport gave its name to the clothing, and the clothing outlived the sport’s exclusive claim on it.

One popular (if unverified) legend even credits its invention to an eccentric 16th-century French nobleman who supposedly tore the sleeves and collar off a shirt in a fit of temper. True or not, canottiera is now just the everyday Italian word for any sleeveless undershirt or tank top — running gear included.