plus fours

plural noun

1. long, baggy knickers for men, introduced before World War I and worn until the 1930s for sports activities, especially golf.

plus fours

plural noun

1. men's baggy knickerbockers reaching below the knee, now only worn for hunting, golf, etc

Other Words From

• plus-foured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plus fours¹

First recorded in 1915–20; so called because four inches are added to the length of ordinary knickers to give the desired looseness

Word History and Origins

Origin of plus fours¹

C20: so called because the trousers are made with four inches of material to hang over at the knee