culottes

American

[koo-lots, kyoo-] / ˈkuˌlɒts, ˈkyu- /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

Sometimes culotte women's pants, usually knee-length or calf-length, cut full to resemble a skirt.

culottes British

/ kjuːˈlɒts /

plural noun

women's flared trousers cut to look like a skirt

"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

Etymology

Origin of culottes

First recorded in 1835–45; from French: literally, “breeches,” equivalent to cul “rump” + -ottes, plural of -otte, feminine of -ot noun suffix. See culet

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It has an incredible structure that allows it to transform into an off-the-shoulder dress and culottes.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2023

When the ladies float down in their culottes, that was all shot practically.

From Slate • Feb. 12, 2021

Sloping-shoulder suit jackets, oversize coats, bags and billowing culottes were imagined in picnic blanket-style crisscross.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2018

I’m not stirring up fashion madness with culottes or anything like that – it’s more about the colours and the textures.

From The Guardian • Dec. 16, 2017

“You’re wearing huge culottes compared to Lauren’s awesome teeny shorts,” Tats reassures me.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023