long-clothes
Definition
- Noun (plural):
- Infant's garment: "long-clothes" refers to the long, typically white garments worn by infants during the first few months of life, especially before they begin to crawl or walk. These garments often cover the entire body and extend beyond the feet, designed for babies who are still lying on their backs.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The newborn was dressed in delicate long-clothes for the christening. (The baby wore a traditional, full-length garment suitable for an infant who cannot yet move independently.)
- In the 19th century, long-clothes were commonly made of linen or cotton and were often embroidered. (These garments were typical for babies in that era, reflecting cultural norms about infant care.)
Advanced Usage
"to be in long-clothes": to be a very young infant, typically before the age of crawling or walking.
- She was still in long-clothes when her portrait was painted. (She was a tiny baby, still wearing the full-length garment.)
"long-clothes period": the stage of infancy when a child wears such garments.
- The long-clothes period lasted about six months for most babies in the past. (This stage ended when the child began to sit up or crawl.)
Variants and Related Words
- Short-clothes (n): garments worn by infants after they begin to crawl or walk, typically shorter and allowing more freedom of movement.
- Once the baby started crawling, she was moved from long-clothes to short-clothes. (The change reflected the child's growing mobility.)
Synonyms
- Infant's gown: a specific type of long-clothes, often a simple, long dress-like garment for babies.
- Baby's long robe: a descriptive term for the same style of clothing.
Related Idioms
- In long-clothes (idiomatic): used metaphorically to mean in a very early or undeveloped stage.
- The project was still in long-clothes, barely past the planning phase. (The project was in its earliest, most rudimentary form.)