Stocking

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈstɑkɪŋ/

Definitions

1. A close-fitting garment worn on the foot and leg, often made of nylon or silk ; a supply of goods held for sale or use in a store or business
2. A tight-fitting hosiery extending from the foot up to the knee or thigh ; an inventory of items kept available for sale or distribution
3. A slender, form-fitting covering for the lower leg and foot, typically worn by women ; a reserved quantity of products kept for retail or manufacturing purposes

Etymology: The garment's name came from the stock, the tree-trunk-like wooden base and its later meanings. Old English "stocc" meant a tree trunk or log, and by the Middle English period "stok" had extended to a stump, a block, and a post. The word "stocking" grew out of a verb meaning to cover with material, which is why a stocking is literally something that covers the leg. The form we use is a corruption of an old plural, "stocken," which English speakers reinterpreted as a singular and then gave a fresh plural of its own. The story is a good illustration of how plurals can become singulars. Speakers heard the "-en" ending as a plural marker, dropped it, and created the modern singular. The result is a noun that began as a plural form of an earlier item and then stood on its own.

Synonyms: sock, hosiery