trousers

[trou-zerz] /ˈtraʊ zərz/
noun, (used with a plural verb)
1.
Sometimes, trouser. Also called pants. a usually loose-fitting outer garment for the lower part of the body, having individual leg portions that reach typically to the ankle but sometimes to any of various other points from the upper leg down.
Compare Bermuda shorts, breeches, knickers (def 1), short (def 29a), slacks.
2.
Origin
1585-95; trouse (variant of trews) + (draw)ers
Related forms
trouserless, adjective

trouser

[trou-zer] /ˈtraʊ zər/
adjective
1.
of or pertaining to trousers or a trouser:
trouser cuffs; a trouser seam.
noun
2.
a leg of a pair of trousers.
Origin
1600-10; back formation from trousers
Examples from the web for trousers
  • Bellbottoms is a trousers that become wider from the knees downwards.
  • This was mainly due to the increased prominence of trousers in fashion.
  • He has muscles which are threatening burst his shirt and trousers.
  • They tell each other apart, if at all, by the patterns of their trousers.
  • Shirt, trousers and salwar kameez are widely worn in urban areas.
  • Heavy light grey flannel trousers worn by a select few a sixth form privilege.
  • The main textile product is synthetic fabric used in trousers.
British Dictionary definitions for trousers

trousers

/ˈtraʊzəz/
plural noun
1.
a garment shaped to cover the body from the waist to the ankles or knees with separate tube-shaped sections for both legs
2.
(Brit, informal) wear the trousers, to have control, esp in a marriage US equivalent wear the pants
Derived Forms
trousered, adjective
trouserless, adjective
Word Origin
C17: from earlier trouse, a variant of trews, influenced by drawers

trouser

/ˈtraʊzə/
noun
1.
(modifier) of or relating to trousers: trouser buttons
verb
2.
(transitive) (slang) to take (something, esp money), sometimes surreptitiously, undeservedly or unlawfully
Word Origin and History for trousers
n.

1610s, earlier trouzes (1580s), extended from trouse (1570s), with plural ending typical of things in pairs, from Gaelic or Middle Irish triubhas "close-fitting shorts," of uncertain origin. The unexplained intrusive second -r- is perhaps by influence of drawers.

Slang definitions & phrases for trousers

trouser

Related Terms

dust someone's jacket


Encyclopedia Article for trousers

pants

an outer garment covering the lower half of the body from the waist to the ankles and divided into sections to cover each leg separately. In attempting to define trousers, historians often explain that if any portion of a garment passed between the legs, it was an ancestor of the trousers. Thus defined, trousers can be traced to ancient times as worn, for example, by the Scythians, Persians, Japanese, and Hindus

Learn more about pants with a free trial on Britannica.com