Mac n 1 (abbr. of “Macintosh”) a light waterproof jacket which can usually be squashed up into an impressively small size for packing away. Possibly derived from the name of the gentleman who worked out how to infuse rubber and cloth. Americans call the same sort of thing a “slicker.” 2 something along the lines of “mate.” The two meanings appear together in the Bonzo Dog Doodah Band's song “Big Shot”, which features the lines: “On the way home a punk stopped me: “You got a light, mac?” / I said “No, but I've got a dark brown overcoat.”

It’s notable that the premier consumer product in computer, hifi, and rainwear bears the Scots name Mac(k)intosh (ok, the computer is named after the apple, which is mass-market, but why quibble?) Properly waterproof clothing is a sort of Holy Grail that’s yet to be achieved. The Mac, layers of wool sealed and cemented with coal-tar byproducts, was innovative in its day but hot and sweaty to wear outside a narrow temperature range. (Here let it be said that there are few things in Life more important than temperature control.) Breathable fabrics have advanced the cause, but only work so well, and in my experience are overwhelmed under field conditions I would consider less than extreme. As far as I can tell, if you want to go out in the weather you must be prepared to get wet.
- alex 8-06-2008 2:25 am [add a comment]