A thong swimsuit is a swimwear bottom with minimal rear coverage, typically leaving the buttocks exposed and held by narrow side straps or cords. In France, the style is called maillot de bain string, string de bain, or bikini string. French dictionaries and retailers distinguish it from ordinary bikini bottoms by its deliberately reduced coverage. The principal appeal is reduced visible tan lines and a visually less bulky silhouette under a cover-up. French retail descriptions also associate the cut with exposing more of the legs and rear. These are practical or aesthetic advantages, not universal benefits: the cut provides less...