What is a tank?

**Doftya** · 27th August 09, 08:31 PM

I come across this term a few times in the forum in regards to kilts, but I havn't been able to find some definition for the term. What do people refer to when they talk about a "tank"?

**Colonel MacNeal** · 27th August 09, 08:34 PM

It's either:

A heavyweight (16 oz or more/yard) eight yard kilt,

or

A kilt that belonged to Irwin Rommel.

**JRB** · 27th August 09, 09:01 PM

As described on the X-Marks FAQ:
A 'TANK' is defined as an eight-yard, wool, hand-sewn, traditional kilt. ie., "It's built like a tank." (coined by Jimmy Carbomb c.2005)

**ziggy** · 27th August 09, 10:05 PM

Yes, it's really a pet name, more than anything else :P If you ask a kiltmaker for a tank, I doubt they know what you mean unless they are on this site :P

**Doftya** · 28th August 09, 04:05 AM

Thanks gentlemen! Thank you for the link to the FAQ as well. I was searching for it earlier and for some reason I couldn't find it.

Cheers

**Bruno** · 28th August 09, 04:36 AM

I always regarded a tank as being over 16oz weight and 10/12 yards myself. Usually a super heavy Military set to the stripe.

That's what my acquaintences understand by the term a tank. but this is Scotland and I live north of a large chunk of Norway and it can get severe. I imagine in the north pole they would regard that as summer weight lol.

**Urchurdan** · 15th September 09, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by Colonel MacNeal

It's either:

A heavyweight (16 oz or more/yard) eight yard kilt,

or

A kilt that belonged to Irwin Rommel.

LoL......I like it....

**The Wizard of BC** · 15th September 09, 04:01 PM

Bruno, can I ask you to clarify something for me? It seemed that you are saying that a Military Kilt contains 10/12 yards of fabric.

**slohairt** · 15th September 09, 09:21 PM

Indeed! 10-12 yards?! That would be one hefty recruit!

Seriously, though, military kilts were discussed in another thread a little while ago. Most contain less than the "whole nine yards" partly because the wearers tend to be small-waisted. Some military kilts, especially those made from Black Watch are (for economic reasons) often pleated using only half of the sett per pleat. So, many military kilts can have as little as 6 yards of fabric once you consider these two factors.