It turns out, however, that lately even the Europeans are adding a little extra coverage to their trunks. From the Baltic Sea beaches to the Greek isles, Euro swimmers just seem to be a little more comfortable about showing off those creamy hamstrings, and Americans have always enjoyed having a little fun with that stereotype. The Speedo may be recognizable around the globe, but its home base has long been mother Europe. Just like the terms Google and Xerox have been co-opted to describe web searches and photocopying, the word 'Speedo' has come to describe a distinct type of bathing suit - regardless of whether it was actually produced by the Australian swimwear company Speedo.
And for most beach and pool goers around the world, the tight, short swim trunks for men are known simply as Speedos.
Others opt for the slang term banana hammocks. The brief-style of bathing suit associated with the Australian brand Speedo is dropping in popularity.
