used by persons working with dangerous chemicals, and lead aprons are
commonly worn by persons such as X-ray technicians who work near
radiation. Aprons, such as those used by carpenters, may have many
pockets to hold tools.Waterproof household aprons, made of oilcloth or
PVC are suitable for cooking and washing dishes.
The word apron is from the reanalysis of the term "a napron" as "an
apron". The original spelling of napron has been lost.
Styles
There are many different apron styles depending on the purpose of the
apron. A basic distinction is between waist aprons which cover the body
from the waist down and a bib apron which also covers the upper part of
the body.
An apron is usually held in place by two ribbon-like strips of cloth that are
tied in the back. A bib apron may either have a strap in around the neck
(perhaps the most widespread use today), or shoulder straps that
criss-cross in the back and attach to the waistband. The advantage of
the former design is that it makes it especially simple to put on the bib
apron. The advantage of the shoulder strap design is that it makes the
apron more comfortable to wear; a neck strap can slightly impair ease of
movement.
Other types of aprons include the pinafore and the cobbler apron. There
are also aprons that will cover the sleeves.
Some modern day aprons will have humorous expressions, designs or
corporate logos.
Aprons in the home
The apron was traditionally viewed as an essential garment for anyone
doing housework. Cheaper clothes and washing machines made aprons
less common beginning in the mid 1960s in some countries such as the
United States. However, the practice of wearing aprons remains strong in
many places.
Today, the apron has enjoyed a minor renaissance in terms of both
women and men now wearing them when performing household chores.
For instance, an article in the Wall Street Journal claimed in 2005 that the
apron is "enjoying a renaissance as a retro-chic fashion accessory" in the
United States. However, it still is not as prevalent as it was prior to the
1960s.
Aprons are nowadays considered equally appropriate for both women and
men by most people. However, prevailing social norms ensure that
women frequently wear more expensive clothing, and may therefore be
more likely to want the protection an apron offers.
For many servant girls who are required by their employers to wear a
uniform when being in their employers home, an apron is a part of that
uniform. For them, the aprons are worn both worn for hygienic reasons
for some work as well a a decorative garment just like the dress/skirt,
and blouse.
Other meanings
The term "apron" also refers to an item of clerical clothing, now largely
obsolete, worn by Anglican bishops and archdeacons. The clerical apron
resembles a short cassock reaching just above the knee, and is coloured
black for archdeacons and purple for bishops. The apron is worn with
black gaiters, reaching to just below the knee, and black trousers tucked
in the gaiters. The history behind the vesture is that it symbolically
represents the mobility of bishops and archdeacons, who at one time
would ride horses to visit various parts of a diocese or archdeaconry. In
this sense, the apparel was much more practical than a clerical cassock
would be. In latter years, this vesture was more symbolic than practical,
and since the mid-twentieth century it has fallen out of favour.
The term is further used more generally to refer to an expanse
surrounding some object; for example, an airport can have a concrete
"apron" around it, where planes and other vehicles can move about. The
flexible lower container of the air cushion of a hovercraft is also called an
apron or skirt.
An apron is another term for linkspan, and is used as a ramp to connect
shoreside facilities with a barge or ferry at a ferry slip.
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