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stocking

[stok-ing]
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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.
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Origin of stocking

First recorded in 1575–85; stock + -ing1
Related formsstock·inged, adjectivestock·ing·less, adjectivehalf-stock·ing, nouno·ver·stock·ing, nounun·stock·inged, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for stockinged

Historical Examples

  • It was Pete, with a candle, coming up in his stockinged feet.

    The Manxman

    Hall Caine

  • The prowler had stubbed his stockinged toe against a chair leg.

    Bloom of Cactus

    Robert Ames Bennet

  • This would make it rough for his stockinged feet, but it was worth it all.

    Two Boys in Wyoming

    Edward S. Ellis

  • He took his hands from his pockets and got up on his stockinged feet.

    Athalie

    Robert W. Chambers

  • He crossed the room in his stockinged feet and took the basin out of her hands.

    The Outrage

    Annie Vivanti

British Dictionary definitions for stockinged

stockinged

adjective
  1. wearing stockings or socks
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stocking

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. in one's stocking feet or in one's stockinged feet wearing stockings or socks but no shoes
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Word Origin

C16: from dialect stock stocking + -ing 1
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 stockinged

stocking

n.

"close-fitting garment covering the foot and leg," 1580s, from stocka "leg covering, stock," from Old English stocu "sleeve," related to Old English stocc "trunk, log" (see stock (n.1)). Probably so called because of a fancied resemblance of legs to tree trunks, or a reference to the punishing stocks. Cognates include Old Norse stuka, Old High German stuhha, from the same Proto-Germanic source. Restriction to women's hose is 20c. As a receptacle for Christmas presents, attested from 1853; hence stocking stuffer first recorded 1976.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper