galligaskins

galligaskins

A man wears a pair of galligaskins while playing a lute.

Definition

Noun (plural): A type of loose, wide breeches or trousers, typically worn in the 16th and 17th centuries. The word is often used humorously or archaically to refer to baggy lower garments.

Usage Examples
  • (Loose, wide breeches from a past era.)
  • (Baggy trousers worn for amusement.)
  • (Period-appropriate wide breeches.)
Advanced Usage
  • "in galligaskins": wearing such breeches; often used to describe a person dressed in an old-fashioned or comical manner.

    • The court jester appeared in galligaskins, much to the king’s delight. (The jester wore wide breeches as part of his humorous attire.)
  • "galligaskins of a bygone age": a poetic or nostalgic reference to historical clothing.

    • The museum displayed a pair of galligaskins from the 1600s. (Wide breeches from the past.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Gaskins (n, informal, archaic): a shortened form of "galligaskins," referring to wide breeches.

    • He pulled on his old gaskins before heading to the field. (He put on his wide trousers.)
  • Slops (n, plural): a synonym for loose breeches, often used interchangeably with galligaskins in historical contexts.

    • Sailors in the 17th century wore slops similar to galligaskins. (Loose trousers for work.)
Synonyms
  • Breeches: short trousers fastened just below the knee, often used historically.
  • Trousers: a general term for leg garments; galligaskins are a specific type of wide trousers.
  • Pantaloons: tight-fitting trousers popular in the 19th century, contrasting with the looseness of galligaskins.
Related Idioms
  • "To be in one’s galligaskins": to be dressed in an old-fashioned or comically loose outfit.

    • The old man was in his galligaskins, looking like a character from a Shakespeare play. (He wore wide breeches, appearing outdated.)
  • "Galligaskins and doublet": a set phrase referring to a complete Elizabethan or Jacobean outfit.

    • The actor was costumed in galligaskins and doublet for the historical drama. (He wore wide breeches and a fitted jacket.)