knee-breeches
Noun (plural only):
Knee-breeches are a type of short trousers that extend down to just below or near the knee, historically worn by men, especially in the 17th and 18th centuries. They are distinct from modern shorts because they are often fastened at the knee with buttons or buckles and are typically made of formal or sturdy fabric.
- (Trousers reaching just below the knee, used for period dress.)
- (Formal, knee-length trousers from an earlier era.)
"to be in knee-breeches": to wear such trousers, often implying a formal or old-fashioned style.
- The actor appeared in knee-breeches for the Shakespearean play. (He wore the period-specific garment.)
"knee-breeches as a symbol": In historical contexts, knee-breeches can symbolize aristocratic or colonial fashion.
- The diplomat’s knee-breeches were a sign of his high social standing in the 1700s. (The garment represented status.)
Breeches (n, plural): a general term for short trousers extending to the knee, often used interchangeably with knee-breeches.
- The rider wore breeches for horseback riding. (Knee-length trousers for equestrian activities.)
Knee-high (adj): reaching up to the knee, often used for boots or socks.
- He wore knee-high boots with his knee-breeches. (Boots that reach the knee.)
- Knee-length trousers: a descriptive term for trousers that end at the knee.
- Knickerbockers: a similar style of loose-fitting trousers gathered at the knee, popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- The schoolboys wore knickerbockers for their uniform. (A type of knee-length trousers.)
"To wear the breeches": an old-fashioned idiom meaning to be the dominant partner in a household (often used in a gender context).
- In that family, the wife clearly wears the breeches. (She is the one in charge.)
"Breeches part": in theater, a role played by a woman dressed in male attire, including knee-breeches.
- The actress took on a breeches part in the opera. (She played a male character wearing knee-breeches.)