A poncho is a simple garment designed to keep the body dry during rain. It is essentially a single large sheet of fabric with an opening for the head.
Alternative ponchos are made of the same shape but of different material; they are designed to look fashionable and be loose and comfortable, rather than ward off rain.
While a traditional clothing in the whole world it's nowadays a standard in military field uniforms, as a raincoat for wandering and biking. Traditional and more local names and variants are:
- Poncho, Spain and worldwide
- Chamanto, central Chile,
- Kotze or "Wetterfleck" in Austria, Switzerland and Bavaria, dark green or brown clothing for hunting
- Paenula , in the old Rome, some kind of cape or jacket
- Kasel or Pluviale , catholic church clothing
- Pelerine , Redingote and Cape, weatherjacket without arms
- "Gurgel" in the Middle Age, short, sometimes with hood