Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An inflatable, vestlike life preserver.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • proper noun An inflatable life jacket, originally used as a personal flotation device by aviators downed at sea.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Nickname for a type of life jacket used by Allied forces in World War II having an inflatable rubber bag on the chest of the wearer.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun United States film actress (1892-1980)
  • noun an inflatable life jacket

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[After Mae West, the appearance of the inflated vest being humorously compared to the actress's large bust .]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Named after the actress and sex symbol Mae West, who was well known during the war. The inflatable front was taken to be like her busty figure.

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