trousers

Meaning

Noun

• An article of clothing that covers the part of the body between the waist and the ankles or knees, and is divided into a separate part for each leg.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• jeans
• pantaloons
• shorts
• slacks

Origin

• Attested since the 1610s, from the earlier form trouzes (attested since the 1580s), extended from trouse (1570s), with plural ending typical of things in pairs, from Middle Irish triubhas, of uncertain origin. The unexplained intrusive second -r- is perhaps due to the influence of drawers.