GR translation: reet pleats

[Mike Jing]

Thanks for the references.  I was going to chalk this one up as one of
those things that'll be inevitably lost in the translation.  Well, I'll
have to add a footnote to explain what a zoot suit is anyway.


On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 1:43 AM, David Payne <dpayne1912 at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> Some of links didn't work, so I'll try again.
>
> Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRHsYU5p4PM
>
> Here's the image:
> http://110opera.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/mg-dwg-photo.jpg
>
> If these links still don't work, google "reet pleat" and you should see
> the YouTube results. Click on "Images" and you should see some photos.
>
> On 7 Mar 2013 at 06:35:41 +0000, I wrote:
> >
> > Solved it!
> >
> > Problem is, you don't need to define "reet", you need to define "reet
> pleat". Totally different.
> >
> > A reet pleat (sometimes spelled reat pleat) is a pleat in zoot suit
> pants that extends from the knee (or maybe a bit higher) down to the cuff.
> >
> > Here's an image:
> http://10oopera.files.wordpress.com/011//1//mg-dwg-photo.jpg
> >
> > You can see the reet pleats pretty clearly on the zoot-suit pants in
> this video, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRHsYUppPPM
> >
> > See, also:
> >
> > * "A young Malcolm X described the zoot suit as: "'a killer-diller coat
> with a drape shape, reet pleats and shoulders padded like a lunatics
> cell.'" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoot_suit)
> >
> > * "I want the zoot suit with the reet pleat" (
> http://www.getwellkathleen.us/LIFE/unsemwww//homefront/zootsuit.htm)
> >
> > * "The design of the suit had many modifications, and came in all
> colors, but it consisted basically of 'the long killer-diller coat with a
> drape shape and wide shoulders; pants with reet-pleats, billowing out at
> the knees, tightly tapered and pegged at the ankles; a porkpie or
> wide-brimmed hat; pointed or thick-soled shoes; and a long, dangling
> keychain.'" (https://www.cdispatch.com/robhardy/article.asp?aid=5572)
> >
> > Curiously, the OED defines reet as sea weed.
> >
> > Keep 'em coming, Mike. I'm enjoying this close reading immensely. You're
> teaching this native English speakers how much he doesn't know.
> >
> > > > > On Sun, Feb 4,, 013 at ::2 AM, Mike Jing
> > > <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > >>
> > > > >> P49..--2 ... It is all out of
> > > > shape, no focus to it until a sarcastic
> > > > >> flourish from the band, and here comes the meanest
> > > > customer Slothrop has
> > > > >> seen outside of a Frankenstein movie—wearing a
> > > > white zoot suit with reet
> > > > >> pleats and a long gold keychain that swings in
> > > > flashing loops as he crosses
> > > > >> the room with a scowl for everybody, in something
> > > > of a hurry but taking the
> > > > >> time to scan faces and bodies, head going side to
> > > > side, methodical, a little
> > > > >> ominous. He stops at last in front of Slothrop,
> > > > who’s putting together a
> > > > >> Shirley Temple for himself.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> What are "reet pleats"? Specifically, what is
> > > > the meaning of the word
> > > > >> "reet" here? I am having trouble finding an
> > > > appropriate translation.
> > > > >>
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > http://www.last.fm/user/Auto_Da_Fe
> > > > > http://www.pop.nu/en/show_collection.asp?user=412
> > > > > http://www.librarything.com/profile/Auto_Da_Fe
> > > > > http://www.thedetails.co.uk/
> > > > > http://www.songkick.com/users/Auto_Da_Fe
> > > > > http://big-game.tumblr.com/
> > > >
> >
>
>
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