About Umbrellas

Umbrellas are canopies designed to protect against precipitation. The word originated from the Latin "umbra," which means shade or shadow. In Britain, New Zealand and Australia, an umbrella is often called by the slang name "brolly." "Gamp" is another name for the umbrella used in Britain. It derived from the umbrella-toting character, Mrs. Gamp, in the Charles Dickens novel "Martin Chuzzlewit." In the late nineteenth century, Americans gave umbrellas the nickname "bumbershoot."

History

Umbrellas can be traced to over 3,000 years ago. At this time, the umbrella was a religious symbol used by Egyptians to denote citizens with higher planes of authority. In the sixteenth century, umbrellas gained popularity as fashion accessories as well as religious symbols throughout Portugal, England and France. In the seventeenth century, waterproof umbrellas came into popular use in England. Umbrellas slowly evolved from these early times into the household objects we know today.

Function

The main function of umbrellas is to protect from rain. They may also be used to shield the user from the sun, although this is normally a job for the cousin of the umbrella, the parasol. Umbrellas are even used in photography as light reflectors. They can also be used as fashion accessories for men or women.

Features

Umbrellas are hand-held portable objects. They are internally supported and collapsible. Umbrellas consist of a handle, often J-shaped, a bottom and top spring for opening and closing, waterproof canopy and a tube and metal ribs that support the canopy.

Features

There are many types of umbrellas available, although many of these could be correctly termed parasols. Collapsible personal umbrellas are the most common. Beach and patio umbrellas are designed to protect from the sun. Photographic umbrellas are used to control light during a photo shoot. Bubble umbrellas have recently gained popularity. They are transparent or translucent with a canopy that surrounds the body, offering more rain protection than traditional types.

Misconceptions

Many people mistake parasols for umbrellas. The difference between the two is the material. All parasols are not waterproof as are umbrellas. Parasols are generally fixed to one place and used as outdoor shelter. Umbrellas are almost always hand-held.

Resources

• History of the Umbrella by Michelle Prima
• Wikipedia: Umbrella