G-string
Encyclopedia
A G-string is a type of thong
underwear or swimsuit
, a narrow piece of cloth, leather
, or plastic
, that covers or holds the genitals, passes between the buttocks
, and is attached to a band around the hips
, worn as swimwear
or underwear by women and men. The two terms G-string and thong are often used interchangeably; however, they can refer to different pieces of clothing.
of Native Americans
and later referred to the narrow loincloth itself. William Safire
in his Ode on a G-String quoted the usage of the word "G-string" for loincloth by Harper's Magazine
15 years after Beadle's and suggested that the magazine confused the word with the musical term G-string (i.e., the string for the G note
). Safire also mentions the opinion of linguist Robert Hendrickson that G (or gee) stands for groin
, which was a taboo word at the time.
In Australia the term "G-banger" is often used.
dressed his created novel-character, Tarzan
, in a G-string for the first time in his book The Son of Tarzan
(1914) in chapter 26. However, Korak, son of Tarzan, used a G-string before his father Tarzan did in the same book (chapter 20).
Thong (clothing)
The thong is a garment generally worn as either underwear or as a swimsuit in many industrialized societies around the world. It may also be worn for traditional ceremonies or competitions such as sumo wrestling...
underwear or swimsuit
Swimsuit
A swimsuit, bathing suit, or swimming costume is an item of clothing designed to be worn by men, women or children while they are engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, water polo, diving, surfing, water skiing, or during activities in the sun, such as sun bathing.A...
, a narrow piece of cloth, leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
, or plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
, that covers or holds the genitals, passes between the buttocks
Buttocks
The buttocks are two rounded portions of the anatomy, located on the posterior of the pelvic region of apes and humans, and many other bipeds or quadrupeds, and comprise a layer of fat superimposed on the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles. Physiologically, the buttocks enable weight to...
, and is attached to a band around the hips
Hip (anatomy)
In vertebrate anatomy, hip refer to either an anatomical region or a joint.The hip region is located lateral to the gluteal region , inferior to the iliac crest, and overlying the greater trochanter of the femur, or "thigh bone"...
, worn as swimwear
Swimsuit
A swimsuit, bathing suit, or swimming costume is an item of clothing designed to be worn by men, women or children while they are engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, water polo, diving, surfing, water skiing, or during activities in the sun, such as sun bathing.A...
or underwear by women and men. The two terms G-string and thong are often used interchangeably; however, they can refer to different pieces of clothing.
Etymology
The origin of the term "G-string" is obscure. Since the 19th century, the term geestring referred to the string which held the loinclothLoincloth
A loincloth is a one-piece male garment, sometimes kept in place by a belt, which covers the genitals and, at least partially, the buttocks.-History and types:Loincloths are being and have been worn:*in societies where no other clothing is needed or wanted...
of Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and later referred to the narrow loincloth itself. William Safire
William Safire
William Lewis Safire was an American author, columnist, journalist and presidential speechwriter....
in his Ode on a G-String quoted the usage of the word "G-string" for loincloth by Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
15 years after Beadle's and suggested that the magazine confused the word with the musical term G-string (i.e., the string for the G note
Note
In music, the term note has two primary meanings:#A sign used in musical notation to represent the relative duration and pitch of a sound;#A pitched sound itself....
). Safire also mentions the opinion of linguist Robert Hendrickson that G (or gee) stands for groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
, which was a taboo word at the time.
In Australia the term "G-banger" is often used.
In popular culture
Edgar Rice BurroughsEdgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
dressed his created novel-character, Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
, in a G-string for the first time in his book The Son of Tarzan
The Son of Tarzan
The Son of Tarzan is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fourth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was written between January 21 and May 11, 1915, and first published in the magazine All-Story Weekly as a six-part serial from December 4, 1915-January 8, 1916. It...
(1914) in chapter 26. However, Korak, son of Tarzan, used a G-string before his father Tarzan did in the same book (chapter 20).