| 释义 |
Mae West slang (orig. R.A.F.).|meɪ wɛst|
[f. the professional name of an American film actress and entertainer (1892–1980), with reference to her curvaceous figure (see quot. 1941).]
An inflatable life-jacket, orig. issued to R.A.F. men in the war of 1939–45, later in more general use where the risk of drowning is involved.
1940Reader's Digest May 31/2 The aviators have adopted amusing novelties. For example..Mae West for a life jacket. 1941N.Y. Times Mag. 27 July 21/2 One can understand..why an airman's life-belt should be a ‘Mae-West’. It..gives the wearer a somewhat feminine figure. 1942R.A.F. Jrnl. 16 May 33 A second more determined pull opened it [sc. the parachute] at about 400–500 feet. The pilot did not inflate his Mae West. 1945Daily Mirror 15 Aug. 3/3 McGarvey discarded his Mae West and swam to the vessel. 1952T. J. Mulvey These are your Sons v. 100 When you are flying over the hills of Korea, Mae Wests are a poor substitute for parachutes. 1958M. Dickens Man Overboard x. 152 I'm glad I wasn't in your submarine, Ben. I'd have worn a Mae West all the time. 1971Daily Tel. 16 Jan. 21/8 He was burned about the face and floated in his ‘Mae West’ until rescued by the Air-Sea Rescue Service. 1974Times 4 Sept. 1/8 One of them had a Mae West on with the words, ‘Morning Cloud’ written across it. |