A full length apron

An apron is an outer protective garment that covers primarily the front of the body. Personal protective equipment (PPE refers to protective Clothing, Helmets, Goggles, or other garment designed to protect the wearer's body or It may be worn for hygienic reasons as well as in order to protect clothes from wear and tear. The apron is commonly part of the uniform of several work categories, including waitresses, nurses, and domestic workers. A uniform is a set of standard Clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity A nurse is responsible—along with other Health care Professionals —for the treatment safety and recovery of acutely or chronically A domestic worker, domestic, servingman, servingwoman, or servant is one who works and often also lives within the employer's household Many homemakers also wear them. Homemaker is a mainly American term which may refer either to the person within a family who is primarily concerned with the management of the household whether It is also worn as a decorative garment by women. Aprons are also worn in many commercial establishments to protect workers clothes from damage, mainly bib aprons, but also others such as farrier aprons. A farrier is a specialist in Equine hoof care including the trimming and balancing of a horse's hoof and the placing of shoes to the horse's

In addition to cloth, aprons can be made from a variety of materials. Rubber aprons are commonly used by persons working with dangerous chemicals, and lead aprons are commonly worn by persons such as X-ray technicians who work near radiation. Aprons, such as those used by carpenters, may have many pockets to hold tools. Waterproof household aprons, made of oilcloth or PVC are suitable for cooking and washing dishes.

The word apron is from the metanalysis of the term "a napron" as "an apron". This article is about the term in linguistics in the natural sciences "metanalysis" is an alternative spelling for " Meta-analysis " The original spelling of napron has been lost.

Styles

There are many different apron styles depending on the purpose of the apron. A basic distinction is between waist aprons which cover the body from the waist down and a bib apron which also covers the upper part of the body.

An apron is usually held in place by two ribbon-like strips of cloth that are tied in the back. A bib apron may either have a strap in around the neck (perhaps the most widespread use today), or shoulder straps that criss-cross in the back and attach to the waistband. The advantage of the former design is that it makes it especially simple to put on the bib apron. The advantage of the shoulder strap design is that it makes the apron more comfortable to wear; a neck strap can slightly impair ease of movement.

Other types of aprons include the pinafore and the cobbler apron. A pinafore (colloquially pinny in British English) is a Sleeveless garment worn as an Apron A cobbler apron (British English Tabard) is a type of Apron that covers both the front and back of the body There are also aprons that will cover the sleeves.

Some modern day aprons will have humorous expressions, designs or corporate logos.

Aprons in the home

Woman of the 1920's wearing a full-length house apron with criss-cross straps.

The apron was traditionally viewed as an essential garment for anyone doing housework. Cheaper clothes and washing machines made aprons less common beginning in the mid 1960s in some countries such as the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the However, the practice of wearing aprons remains strong in many places.

Today, the apron has enjoyed a minor renaissance in terms of both women and men now wearing them when performing household chores. For instance, an article in the Wall Street Journal claimed in 2005 that the apron is "enjoying a renaissance as a retro-chic fashion accessory" in the United States^[1]. However, it still is not as prevalent as it was prior to the 1960s.

Aprons are nowadays considered equally appropriate for both women and men by most people. However, prevailing social norms ensure that women frequently wear more delicate clothing, and may therefore be more likely to want the protection an apron offers.

When domestic workers are supplied a uniform by their employers, an apron is often included. A domestic worker, domestic, servingman, servingwoman, or servant is one who works and often also lives within the employer's household A uniform is a set of standard Clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity The aprons are worn for hygienic as well as for identification purposes.

Other meanings

The term "apron" also refers to an item of clerical clothing, now largely obsolete, worn by Anglican bishops and archdeacons. Clerical clothing is non- liturgical Clothing worn exclusively by Clergy. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight A position of archdeacon is a senior position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, and in some other Christian denominations above that of most The clerical apron resembles a short cassock reaching just above the knee, and is coloured black for archdeacons and purple for bishops. The cassock, an item of Clerical clothing, is a long close-fitting ankle-length Robe worn by clerics of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox The apron is worn with black gaiters, reaching to just below the knee, and black trousers tucked in the gaiters. Gaiters are items worn on the lower leg and used primarily as Personal protective equipment; similar items used primarily for display are Spats. The history behind the vesture is that it symbolically represents the mobility of bishops and archdeacons, who at one time would ride horses to visit various parts of a diocese or archdeaconry. In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. In this sense, the apparel was much more practical than a clerical cassock would be. In latter years, this vesture was more symbolic than practical, and since the mid-twentieth century it has fallen out of favour.

The term is further used more generally to refer to an expanse surrounding some object; for example, an airport can have a concrete "apron" around it, where planes and other vehicles can move about. An airport is a location where Aircraft such as airplanes, Helicopters and blimps take off and land The airport ramp or apron is part of an Airport. It is usually the area where Aircraft are parked unloaded or loaded refueled or boarded The flexible lower container of the air cushion of a hovercraft is also called an apron or skirt. A hovercraft, or air-cushion vehicle (ACV is an Amphibious vehicle or craft, designed to travel over any sufficiently smooth surface supported by

An apron is another term for linkspan, and is used as a ramp to connect shoreside facilities with a barge or ferry at a ferry slip. A linkspan or link-span is a type of Drawbridge used mainly in the operation of moving Vehicles on and off a RO-RO vessel or Ferry ferry slip is a specialized docking facility that receives a ferryboat.

An apron stage is any part of a stage that extends past the proscenium arch and into the audience or seating area. The apron is any part of the stage that extends past the proscenium arch and into the audience or seating area

References

1. ^ The apron ascends to costly kitchen couture, The Wall Street Journal, August 12, 2005

See also

• Apron dress
• Hadaka apron
• National Wear Your Apron Day
• Bib (clothing)
• Chaps