small-clothes
Definition
- Noun (plural):
- Historical garment: "small-clothes" refers to tight-fitting knee-length breeches worn by men in the 18th century, typically as part of formal or everyday dress. They were often made of fine fabric and fastened at the knee with buttons or buckles.
Usage Examples
- (Tight knee-length breeches from that period.)
- (He crafted these historical trousers.)
Advanced Usage
- "small-clothes" as a period detail: The term is used in historical contexts to describe a specific type of men's lower-body garment.
- The museum's collection includes a pair of silk small-clothes from the 1770s. (A garment from the 18th century.)
Variants and Related Words
- Smallclothes (n, alternative spelling): The same garment, sometimes written as one word.
- He wore smallclothes under his coat. (Synonymous with small-clothes.)
Synonyms
- Breeches: Short trousers fastened at or just below the knee.
- Knee-breeches: Breeches that end at the knee, often with buckles.
- Culottes (historical): A similar but looser garment worn in the 18th century.
Related Idioms
- No common idioms are associated with "small-clothes," as the term is largely historical and specific to clothing.
Notes on Usage
- "Small-clothes" is almost exclusively used in historical or academic contexts, such as discussions of 18th-century fashion, costume design, or reenactment. It is rarely used in modern everyday speech.