stocking

American  

[stok-ing] / ˈstɒk ɪŋ /

noun

1. a close-fitting covering for the foot and part of the leg, usually knitted, of wool, cotton, nylon, silk, or similar material.

2. something resembling such a covering.

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idioms

1. in one's stocking feet, wearing stockings, but without shoes.

   Be careful of glass splinters if you walk through here in your stocking feet.

stocking British  

/ ˈstɒkɪŋ /

noun

1. one of a pair of close-fitting garments made of knitted yarn to cover the foot and part or all of the leg

2. something resembling this in position, function, appearance, etc

3. wearing stockings or socks but no shoes

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Other Word Forms

• half-stocking noun
• overstocking noun
• stockinged adjective
• stockingless adjective
• unstockinged adjective

Etymology

Origin of stocking

First recorded in 1575–85; stock + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

I’ve been working and paying taxes since I was 10, starting with washing dishes and stocking shelves at a family business until I joined the military at 17.

From MarketWatch

Some critical-mineral markets are tiny, while stocking up on bulk commodities like copper and aluminum would require a lot of warehouse space, noted CRU analyst Tom Matthews.

From The Wall Street Journal

The next day when I woke up, the first thing I laid eyes on was my stocking.

From Literature

Consumer spending will only be modestly impacted since any weather-related decline is typically partly offset by people stocking up ahead of the storm and using more power as they spend more time indoors.

From Barron's

Dan, clad only in stocking feet, ran from log to log.

From Literature

Related Words

• hose
• hosiery
• sock