pantalets

A woman wears pantalets while riding her bicycle in the park.

Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • Women's long underpants: "pantalets" refer to long, loose underpants worn by women and girls in the 19th century, often trimmed with lace or ruffles and extending to the ankles.
   • Cycling shorts: A later meaning, "pantalets" also denotes short, loose trousers worn by women for cycling or other athletic activities.

Usage Examples

• (Long underpants with decorative trim.)
• (Short, loose trousers for cycling.)

Advanced Usage

• "to wear pantalets": to dress in the specific style of 19th-century women's undergarments.
  • The historical reenactor wore pantalets as part of her Victorian costume. (She donned the period-appropriate underpants.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pantalettes (n): an alternative spelling of "pantalets," equally common.
  • The antique shop sold a pair of lace-trimmed pantalettes. (The alternative spelling is used interchangeably.)

Synonyms

• Drawers: a historical term for women's underpants, similar in function to pantalets.
• Bloomers: loose trousers worn by women in the 19th century for sports or reform dress, overlapping in meaning with pantalets.

Related Idioms

• None common; "pantalets" is a specific historical garment term and does not appear in idiomatic expressions.

Additional Notes

• "Pantalets" is almost exclusively used in historical contexts or discussions of vintage clothing. It is rarely used in modern everyday language.