Gilet - Lawless French Vocabulary

Sound file: gilet

Translation: cardigan; suit vest, (UK) waistcoat; undershirt, (UK) vest

Il fait frais, je vais mettre un gilet. – It’s chilly, I’m going to put on a cardigan.

C’est un dîner formel, vous devez porter un gilet. – It’s a formal dinner, you need to wear a vest with your suit (i.e., a three-piece suit).

Informal idiom: aller pleurer dans le gilet de quelqu’un – to run crying to someone

un gilet à l’épreuve des balles – bulletproof jacket
un gilet d’armes – body armor
un gilet de corps – undershirt, (UK) vest
un gilet de haute visibilité – vest with reflective stripes that French drivers are required to have in their car. It may be any color, but yellow is the most common.
un gilet de laine – wool cardigan
un gilet jaune – fluorescent yellow gilet de haute visibilité
un gilet pare-balles – bulletproof jacket
un gilet de peau – undershirt, (UK) vest
un gilet de sauvetage – life jacket / vest