# Name Ronald McDonald's garment **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2015, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861 "2015-07-22T07:34:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/1 "2015-07-22T07:34:41Z")
Thanks again for everyone’s [help in identifying](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=443002) the ridiculous upper-body garment favoured by _Three’s Company_’s Mr. Furley as a “belted vest”. Can we all now put our heads together and come up with the proper sartorial nomenclature for [Ronald McDonald’s outfit](https://www.google.com/search?q=ronald+mcdonald&tbm=isch&gws_rd=ssl)? I’m referring specifically to the bright yellow garment he wears overtop the striped shirt[sup]\*[/sup] and tights. If I had to describe it, I’d say it was a “sleeveless knickerbocker jumpsuit”, though that’s kind of a mouthful. Is there a more common term for it? And was this item of clothing invented specifically for the clown, or is/was anything resembling it actually worn by the general public at some time, or by some particular tradespeople? [sup]\*[/sup]In some incarnations of the costume, it looks like the striped sleeves are sewn onto the jumpsuit, but in others they clearly belong to a separate shirt worn underneath. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/2 "2015-07-22T07:45:21Z")
“Sleeveless jumpsuit” sounds about right. Women also wear “rompers” but they are usually very short legged. “Capri rompers” then get them to calf-length, but that’s probably a description rather than a name. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/3 "2015-07-22T09:00:48Z")
Sleeveless overalls. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/4 "2015-07-22T09:28:09Z")
When I think of jumpsuits and overalls, I think of garments with long pant legs. Am I the only one who thinks the short legs are just as salient as the lack of sleeves? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/5 "2015-07-22T12:29:52Z")
I find “Clown suit” covers it pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/6 "2015-07-22T13:32:44Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > Sleeveless overalls. Hmmm, sounds redundant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pair of overalls with sleeves. ETA: the ones with sleeves are called coveralls. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/7 "2015-07-22T13:49:44Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Hmmm, sounds redundant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pair of overalls with sleeves. > > ETA: the ones with sleeves are called coveralls. Not in British English. British “overalls” are one-piece garments with sleeves; same as “coveralls” in American English. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/8 "2015-07-22T13:51:33Z")
Since Ronald McDonald is an American construct, let’s go with the American English nomenclature. ---
**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/9 "2015-07-22T13:57:21Z")
Let’s not forget the jodhpurs flare as well. There is no name for this garment because only Ronald McDonald has ever worn such a thing. Call it like you see it. “Clown Jumpsuit” works for me. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/10 "2015-07-22T15:35:34Z")
Adult kiddy jumper. Well, at least thats what I think every time I see him. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/11 "2015-07-22T16:53:29Z")
Yes, clown jumpsuit. _Clumpsuit_ ! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/12 "2015-07-22T19:59:57Z")
The McDonalds [Wiki](http://mcdonalds.wikia.com/wiki/Ronald_McDonald) (yes, there is such a beast) describes it as a “jumpsuit”. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/13 "2015-07-23T03:38:02Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Hmmm, sounds redundant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pair of overalls with sleeves. > > ETA: the ones with sleeves are called coveralls. When I Google image search “overalls”, all I get is pictures of bib and brace overalls. Preface the search with the word “sleeveless” and get the vest style ones. I don’t know a short term to describe all the elements of Ronald’s garment, but I’d say sleeveless culotte jumpsuit or sleeveless culotte overalls is the most descriptive and concise term I can think of. Otherwise, perhaps vested knickerbocker overalls/jumpsuit covers it. Another term for the trouser part could be 3/4 length, or they could be loosely described as knee-breeches, but that’s not improving the brevity. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/14 "2015-07-23T03:47:35Z")
Creepy? Disturbing? It looks like he murdered a child and is wearing his victim’s clothes. It doesn’t fit him right so it exposes his red striped prison outfit underneath. His ashen face (I assume from years of being locked away) is splattered with his victim’s blood around the mouth, indicating he ate said victim(s). Then washed his hair in the pool of blood…Or am I the only one seeing this? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/15 "2015-07-23T03:48:39Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I find “Clown suit” covers it pretty well. Hey, knock off the snark, bub. I call it my normal business attire…you got a problem with that? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/16 "2015-07-23T20:13:43Z")
It’s similar to the boiler suit worn by the Comedian in the early years of the Watchmen. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/17 "2015-07-24T11:36:23Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > It’s similar to the boiler suit worn by the Comedian in the early years of the Watchmen. What’s that, a comic book? Does it predate Ronald’s uniform? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/18 "2015-07-24T16:33:59Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > What’s that, a comic book? Does it predate Ronald’s uniform? Yes. But since it dates to 1986, it came long after Ronald. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/19 "2015-07-24T21:31:39Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Yes. But since it dates to 1986, it came long after Ronald. 😕 I’m not suggesting that Ronald McDonald was patterned after the Comedian. I’m saying that a similar garment is called a boiler suit, and citing the early Comedian as an example. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2015, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861/20 "2015-07-25T02:06:43Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > I don’t know a short term to describe all the elements of Ronald’s garment, but I’d say sleeveless culotte jumpsuit or sleeveless culotte overalls is the most descriptive and concise term I can think of. Otherwise, perhaps vested knickerbocker overalls/jumpsuit covers it. Another term for the trouser part could be 3/4 length, or they could be loosely described as knee-breeches, but that’s not improving the brevity. I’d go with “sleeveless jumpsuit intended for a much shorter, fatter person.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-ronald-mcdonalds-garment/725861.md?page=2)