See Also: trousers(dictionary)
trousers(dictionary)
drainpipe trousers(dictionary)
military antishock trousers(medicine)

trousers (iou)



trousers noun pl. In attrib. use & in comb. usu. in sing. trouser (otherwise rare). E17.
[from TROUSE noun2 after drawers. Cf. TREWS.]
= TROUSE noun2 1. E17-M19.
Orig., a loose-fitting garment covering the loins and legs. Now, an outer garment reaching from the waist usu. to the ankles, divided into two parts to cover the legs (freq. with specifying word). Also pair of trousers. L17.
Cossack trousers, Oxford trousers, Petersham trousers, Turkish trousers, etc. long trousers: see LONG adjective1. short trousers: see SHORT adjective. STRIPED trousers.
G. Orwell He was..holding up his trousers with both hands as he ran. J. Trollope She wore a..smock over wide blue trousers.
b. Hist. Pantalettes. E19.
J. Ashby-Sterry Girls..in short frocks, frilled trousers, and broad blue sashes.
c. The hair on the hind legs of a dog, esp. one of a long-coated breed. M20.
Phrases: anything in trousers colloq. any man, whether eligible, suitable, or not. not in these trousers colloq. certainly not. with one's trousers down colloq. = with one's PANTS down. wear the trousers: see WEAR verb1.
Comb.: trouser-clip = bicycle clip s.v. BICYCLE noun; trouser-cuff the turn-up on a trouser-leg; trouser-press a device for pressing trouser-legs to produce a crease; trouser-presser (a) a person who irons trousers; (b) = trouser-press above; trouser suit a woman's suit of matching jacket or tunic and trousers; trouser-suited adjective wearing a trouser suit.
trousered adjective wearing or dressed in trousers L18.
trouserettes noun (a) pantalettes; (b) short trousers: L19.
trousering noun (a) any cloth suitable for trousers (freq. in pl.); (b) in pl., trousers: M19.
trouserless adjective M19.
trousies noun pl. (dial. & colloq.) trousers L19.