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Why do American call trousers pants?
The word ‘pants’ comes to us from an Anglicization of the character’s name, “Pantaloon.” Americans clipped the term to pants in the early 19th century, and that shorter word became a standard term for the garment, serving also as the basis for new formations denoting new garments, such as underpants and panties.
What do they call trousers in the US?
The preferred generic term in the US is “pants,” which can be used to describe anything from grubby jeans to the trousers that accompany your best dinner jacket. The word “trousers” is perfectly acceptable in the US, and is used to refer to those full-length fabric things you use to cover your legs.
Why do they call them trousers?
“garment for men, covering the lower body and each leg separately,” 1610s, earlier trouzes (1580s), extended from trouse (1570s), with plural ending typical of things in pairs, from Gaelic or Middle Irish triubhas “close-fitting shorts,” of uncertain origin.
Was pants a bad word in England?
In England, in the 1880’s, ‘Pants’ was considered a dirty word. – Did You Know? In England, in the 1880’s, ‘Pants’ was considered a dirty word.
What does trousers mean in British English?
British English: trousers /ˈtraʊzəz/ NOUN. Trousers are a piece of clothing that you wear over your body from the waist downwards, and that cover each leg separately. You can also say a pair of trousers.
Do they say undies in America?
Panties (in American English, also called pants, undies or knickers in British English) are a form of underwear primarily worn by women. Panties can be form-fitting or loose.
What is the American English word for rubbish?
rubbish Add to list Share. Rubbish is a synonym for garbage or trash. The word is more commonly used by speakers of British English than by speakers of American English.
What countries call trousers pants?
In British English, pants means underpants or, informally, nonsense. In American English, pants means trousers; the singular form is used as adjective.
Is trousers a British word?
In the UK, we would be embarrassed if people saw our pants….
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| Trousers | Pants |
| Pants / Underwear / Knickers | Underwear / panties |
| briefs/underpants | shorts/jockey shorts |
What are trousers called in Australia?
dacks (daks) – trousers, most likely derived from the London clothier Daks (founded in 1894). Trackie dacks are tracksuit trousers, and underdacks are underpants or knickers.
In what century in England was pants a dirty word?
What is the difference between pants and trousers in English?
7 Answers. In US usage pants means trousers. In UK usage pants means underpants. The popularity of US films and TV programmes means that most English speakers are likely to have some awareness of the US usage and will correctly understand phrases that use pants to mean trousers.
What do you call the pants you wear under your pants?
In the United States, the pants which are worn under the trouser are known as underpants, underwear, or panties (a term preferably used for women’s undergarments). In the United Kingdom, pants are usually wearing under trousers and trousers are used to cover pants in public or gathering.
What is the meaning of the word pants?
In British English, pants means underpants or, informally, nonsense. In American English, pants means trousers; the singular form is used as adjective. [BrEn] He thought we were going to be absolute pants.
Why do British people wear pants under their pants?
In the United Kingdom, pants are usually wearing under trousers and trousers are used to cover pants in public or gathering. So this philological intermingling can result in an embarrassing or awkward moment when someone is talking to the British or an American.