Poncho

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Typical Andes poncho in a flea market in Genoa, Italy

Clear Plastic Rain Poncho modeled by Mark Allyn in Seattle, Washington

A poncho is a simple garment designed to keep the body warm, or if made from an impermeable material, to keep dry during rain. It is essentially a single large sheet of fabric with an opening for the head and sometimes for the arms. Some ponchos, especially those made to ward off rain, also have hoods attached.

Alternative ponchos are now designed as fashion accessories; they are the same shape but of different material. They are designed to look fashionable and be loose and comfortable, rather than ward off cold and rain. These are often made out of wool or yarn, knitted or crocheted. Ponchos with festive designs or colors can be worn at special events as well.

The poncho, commonly associated with South America, has spread worldwide. While a traditional clothing in the whole world it is nowadays a standard in military field uniforms, and as a raincoat for wandering and biking.Traditional and more local names and variants are:

Poncho, most of Latin America, Spain and worldwide
Chamanto, Only in central Chile, poncho in the north and south
Jorongo or Sarape, Mexico
Kotze or "Wetterfleck" in Austria, Switzerland and Bavaria; a dark green or brown clothing for hunting
Paenula, in ancient Rome; some kind of cape or jacket
Kasel or Pluviale, Roman Catholic Church clothing
Pelerine, Redingote and Cape; a weatherjacket without arms
Poncho Chilote, a heavy poncho made of wool
Gurgel, in the Middle Ages; short, sometimes with hood
Ruana, in cold regions of Colombia

[edit] Military equipment

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During the second world war, the Wehrmacht issued the Zeltbahn, a poncho that could be combined to form tents. A typical four-man tent used four Zeltbahne.

In the infantry of Australia and the UK, a poncho is a shelter half that may also serve as a raincoat or as an individual shelter. In operations in which ponchos are used, one is carried by each person, and when combined with another forms a two-person tent.