tog

A "tog" has two main lives: one in clothing and one in bedding. In everyday British and Australian English, "togs" is an informal word for clothes, and in some places it can mean swimwear. If you get "togged up," you get dressed, often for a special event or for a particular activity. The word is also widely known as a unit used to measure how warm a fabric is. When you shop for a duvet, the "tog rating" tells you how much heat it can hold; the higher the number, the warmer it will feel on a cold night.

The word "tog" has a long history that reaches back to the Latin word toga. In older English, a "tog" could mean a garment such as a coat, but today the plural form "togs" is much more common when people mean clothes. Over time, "togs" became an informal word for clothing in general. In Australia and in some other places, it can also mean swimwear, so someone going to the beach might grab their "togs." You may also hear the phrase "tog up," which means to get dressed, especially for a particular purpose or occasion.

In the 20th century, the word also took on a technical meaning in the textile industry. A "tog" became a standard unit for measuring the thermal insulation of a fabric. This use is now very familiar in the UK, especially when people talk about duvets. For example, a 4.5-tog duvet is usually seen as good for summer, while a 13.5-tog or 15-tog duvet is meant for much colder weather.

Although it is sometimes confused with "toggle," the word "tog" has its own path. Depending on the context, it may point to clothes, swimwear, getting dressed, or a fabric warmth rating. That mix of informal everyday use and technical use is what makes the word unusual.