bloomer

¹

[ bloo-mer ]

noun

1. an outfit for women, advocated about 1850 by Amelia Jenks Bloomer, consisting of a short skirt, loose trousers gathered and buttoned at the ankle, and often a coat and a wide hat.
2. bloomers, (used with a plural verb)
   1. loose trousers gathered at the knee, formerly worn by women as part of a gymnasium, riding, or other sports outfit.
   2. women's underpants of similar, but less bulky, design.
   3. the trousers of a bloomer outfit.
   4. any of various women's garments with full-cut legs gathered at the bottom edge.

adjective

1. (of a woman's garment) having full-cut legs gathered at the bottom edge:

   bloomer shorts.

bloomer

²

[ bloo-mer ]

noun

1. a plant that blooms:

   a night bloomer.

2. a person who develops skills, abilities, interests, etc., commensurate with their capacities: See late bloomer ( def ).

   She was a quiet, methodical child who became a late bloomer.

bloomer

³

[ bloo-mer ]

noun

1. a foolish mistake; blunder.

Bloomer

⁴

[ bloo-mer ]

noun

1. Amelia Jenks [jengks], 1818–94, U.S. social reformer and women's-rights leader.

bloomer

¹

/ ˈbluːmə /

noun

1. informal.
   a stupid mistake; blunder

bloomer

²

/ ˈbluːmə /

noun

1. a plant that flowers, esp in a specified way

   a night bloomer

bloomer

³

/ ˈbluːmə /

noun

1. a medium-sized loaf, baked on the sole of the oven, glazed and notched on top

Word History and Origins

Origin of bloomer¹

An Americanism dating to 1850–55; named after A.J. Bloomer

Origin of bloomer²

First recorded in 1720–30; bloom ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of bloomer³

First recorded in 1885–90; bloom(ing) (as euphemism for bloody ) + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bloomer¹

C20: from blooming

Origin of bloomer²

C20: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

The first time women in the West were allowed to wear pants en masse were with the advent of bloomers, named after newspaper editor Amelia Bloomer.

From The Daily Beast

But the region, for lack of a better term, was a late bloomer.

From The Daily Beast

School is hard, and I was a late-bloomer in finding out who I was and how to be myself.

From The Daily Beast

Its leadership relies, increasingly, on half-hearted, inexperienced freelancers or unskilled, late-bloomer recruits.

From The Daily Beast

An early bloomer in the kitchen, chef Jamie Bissonnette gravitated toward cooking shows instead of cartoons.

From The Daily Beast

The lithe former Betty Bloomer loved clothes and a good party.

From The Daily Beast

It is a very free bloomer, and should be given a place in all collections.

From Project Gutenberg

Before Captain Bloomer received the letter, the last spark of anger in his breast had given place to paternal anxiety.

From Project Gutenberg

In the evening the cousins drove away, leaving Miss Bloomer in anything but a pleasant mood.

From Project Gutenberg

Miss Bloomer's reputation was at stake, and the sergeant's life endangered, as will afterwards appear.

From Project Gutenberg

Then I saw the cabin and a little lady in almost bloomer dress milking the cow.

From Project Gutenberg