smallclothes

American  

[smawl-klohz, -klohthz] / ˈsmɔlˌkloʊz, -ˌkloʊðz /

plural noun

1. British. small, personal items of clothing, as underwear, handkerchiefs, etc.

2. knee breeches, especially the close-fitting ones worn in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries.

---

smallclothes British  

/ -ˌkləʊðz, ˈsmɔːlˌkləʊz /

plural noun

1. men's close-fitting knee breeches of the 18th and 19th centuries

---

Etymology

Origin of smallclothes

First recorded in 1625–35; small + clothes

Example Sentences

Stockings, smallclothes, silken tunic, padded jerkin, all fresh-washed and bleached.

From Literature

“That may be so, Your Radiance,” said Ezzara, “but this blood was mingled with his stool. It stained his smallclothes.”

From Literature

“No, my lord, I mean to set them to sewing lacy smallclothes. Of course they shall be trained at arms. They shall also chum butter, hew firewood, muck stables, empty chamber pots, and run messages ... and in between they will be drilled with spear and sword and longbow.”

From Literature

In her cell, she stripped to the skin and dressed herself carefully, in two layers of smallclothes, warm stockings, and her cleanest tunic.

From Literature

"My sister would soil her smallclothes."

From Literature

Related Words

• bikini
• bra
• corset
• lingerie
• shorts
• undergarment
• underpants
• undershirt