trousers

[trou-zerz]

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. Also called pants. Sometimes a usually loose-fitting outer garment for the lower part of the body, having individual leg portions that reach typically to the ankle but sometimes to any of various other points from the upper leg down.

2. pantalets.

trousers

/ ˈtraʊzəz /

plural noun

1. a garment shaped to cover the body from the waist to the ankles or knees with separate tube-shaped sections for both legs

2. US equivalent: wear the pants. informal,  to have control, esp in a marriage

Other Word Forms

• trouserless adjective
• trousered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trousers¹

1585–95; trouse (variant of trews ) + (draw)ers (in the sense “undergarment with legs”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of trousers¹

C17: from earlier trouse , a variant of _trews , influenced by _drawers

Related Words

• knickers 
• slacks