Hosiery

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈhoʊʒəɹi/

Definitions

1. A group of garments designed to cover and adorn the legs, typically comprising stockings, tights, and leggings made from thin and elastic materials for both aesthetics and warmth
2. An array of leg coverings that may include tights and stockings, usually produced from lightweight, stretchable fabrics for style and comfort
3. A category of apparel that encompasses items like stockings and tights, generally crafted from sheer or stretchy materials to enhance appearance and provide warmth

Etymology: Hosiery is simply hosier plus the suffix "-y," and the more interesting part is what a hosier was. The word "hosier" comes from "hose," the old term for close-fitting leg coverings, which in medieval England were a single garment running from waist to foot, long before trousers became common. A hosier was the tradesman who made and sold them. The suffix "-y" is what turned that trade into a collective noun. Adding it to "hosier" produced a word for the goods themselves, so "hosiery" names stockings and similar leg wear as a category rather than any one pair or the person who sold them.

Synonyms: stockings, tights, socks, pantyhose, leggings