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bloomer

1
[bloo-mer]
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noun

a costume 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.
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 costume.
  4. any of various women's garments with full-cut legs gathered at the bottom edge.

adjective

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

Origin of bloomer

1
1850–55, Americanism; named after A.J. Bloomer

bloomer

2
[bloo-mer]

noun

a plant that blooms: a night bloomer.
a person who develops skills, abilities, interests, etc., commensurate with his or her capacities: a quiet, methodical child who became a late bloomer.

Origin of bloomer

2
First recorded in 1720–30; bloom1 + -er1

bloomer

3
[bloo-mer]

noun

a foolish mistake; blunder.

Origin of bloomer

3
1885–90; bloom(ing) (as euphemism for bloody) + -er1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for bloomers

goof, blooper, stumble, muff, fumble, error, boner, bungle, mistake

Examples from the Web for bloomers

Contemporary Examples of bloomers

Historical Examples of bloomers

  • After dinner, the apprentices retired, to finish sewing some bloomers.

    The Bill-Toppers

    Andre Castaigne

  • Women should wear short skirts, bloomers, or riding-breeches.

    Your National Parks

    Enos A. Mills

  • How does the band of the bloomers differ from that put on the petticoat?

  • All girls should know about it, whether you will use wool or cotton for your bloomers.

  • Bloomers can also be made from gingham, percale, galatea, or other cotton cloth.

British Dictionary definitions for bloomers

bloomers

pl n

informal women's or girls' baggy knickers
(formerly) loose trousers gathered at the knee worn by women for cycling and athletics
Also called: rational dress history long loose trousers gathered at the ankle and worn under a shorter skirt

Word Origin for bloomers

from bloomer, a garment introduced in about 1850 and publicized by Mrs A. Bloomer (1818–94), US social reformer

bloomer

1

noun

a plant that flowers, esp in a specified waya night bloomer

bloomer

2

noun

British informal a stupid mistake; blunder

Word Origin for bloomer

C20: from blooming

bloomer

3

noun

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

Word Origin for bloomer

C20: of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for bloomers
n.

1851, named for U.S. feminist reformer Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818-1894), who promoted them. The surname is attested from c.1200, said to mean literally "iron-worker," from Old English bloma (see bloom (n.2)).

bloomer

n.

1730, agent noun from bloom (v.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper