What's this called? POLL

[ShrekDawg]

When you have a lot of something, you need words to describe different kinds.

So chickens, ducks, and geese are kinds of birds.
Rocks and Wyandottes and Leghorns are kinds of chickens.
Barred Rock and White Rock are kinds of Rocks.

Or shirts and pants are kind of clothing.
Jeans and sweatpants are kinds of pants.
T-shirt and sweatshirt and polo shirt are kinds of shirts.

Northerners need ways to describe different kinds of coat, so we have puffer and windbreaker and parka and so on.

Many kinds of "coat" can also be jackets, but not all of them. Jackets are not ankle-length (like a trench coat), and jackets are more likely to be light in weight (summer jacket vs. winter coat.)

Of the terms in the poll, I've never heard of "warmer" being used to describe such a garment, but it might be common in another part of the country. I've encountered all the other terms you list.

I would typically use "coat" for all the things in the pictures, "windbreaker" for a different style of thing, "jacket" as a synonym for windbreaker, and "puffer" only if I had to distinguish that particular kind of coat from some other kind. The white one in the picture is not a "puffer," but I don't have a special word for that style of coat.

Way too complicated. I just call all of them a coat or sometimes jacket. But I’m not about to be like where’s my windbreaker? Where’s my puffer? Etc. etc. I’d just say where’s my coat? Or similar. Only time is maybe use other words is when shopping and typing it in or maybe say raincoat instead of just coat sometimes

 

[The Moonshiner]

But think of all you'd be missing.

No worries. Many have put me on ignore but it never lasts long until they unignore me.

 

[Brooks_]

No worries. Many have put me on ignore but it never lasts long until they unignore me.

Because they're missing things.

 

[Isadora]

No worries. Many have put me on ignore but it never lasts long until they unignore me.

How do you know this?

 

[The Moonshiner]

Because either they say or go back to quoting me.

 

[sourland]

D@mn I'm gonna have to agree with Keeks.
A puffer has two meanings to me. Neither is any type of coat and both should of made the urban dictionary.

'Puffer' is there.

 

[sweaterthebroodyrooster]

What's this then? I call it a wingsuit View attachment 2959148

Holy sh!t that thing’s long. How would you walk in that thing?? I’d die.

I’m with keeks, northerners are effing weird and “Puffer” is incredibly stupid.

 

[The Moonshiner]

'Puffer' is there.

Yep. Top two were what I knew.

 

[tripletfeb]

Holy sh!t that thing’s long. How would you walk in that thing?? I’d die.

I’m with keeks, northerners are effing weird and “Puffer” is incredibly stupid.

We might be weird but at least we don't cry when it gets below 50°

 

[NatJ]

Way too complicated. I just call all of them a coat or sometimes jacket. But I’m not about to be like where’s my windbreaker? Where’s my puffer? Etc. etc. I’d just say where’s my coat? Or similar. Only time is maybe use other words is when shopping and typing it in or maybe say raincoat instead of just coat sometimes

I prefer to just say "coat" or "jacket." But I've been in plenty of situations where I do need to be more specific.

As you mention, shopping is definitely one.

Other than shopping, I'm much more likely to say "everyone grab a warm coat, because today is cold" or "has anyone seen my blue coat?" rather than naming specific types.