Pantaloons, Pants

The garments which preceded trousers. Then the word came to mean trousers. A few American examples of the latter word are here added. As to Pantaloons, see also Notes and Queries, 10 S. vii. 207; as to Trousers, 10 S. vi. 86, 157, 255. The Stanford Dict. furnishes instances of pantaloons (It. pantaloni), 1660, 1663, &c. The derivation, quot. 1836, is a mere guess.

1804.  He was dressed in the American style; in a blue suit, with round hat and pantaloons.—C. B. Brown, tr. ‘Volney’s View of the U.S.,’ 360. (N.E.D.)

1809.  Fashions for Gentlemen. Stocking pantaloons and half-boots. Nankeen trowsers and gaiters, or Kerseymere pantaloons and gaiters in one.—Lancaster (Pa.), Journal, Oct. 24.

1819.  Look in the bureaus and trunks of modern men of fashion, and see the number of coats, waistcoats, pantaloons, &c.—St. Louis Enquirer, Sept. 15.

1836.  Pantaloons. This word is derived from the Latin pene, almost, and talones, the heels, because they come quite down to the heels. It is in the memory of persons now living in Mississippi, the beaux and belles of Spanish times, that pantaloons were inadmissible at balls, as small clothes now would be.—Phila. Public Ledger, July 21.

1837.  He rolled and plunged about, and endeavored to tear off his burning garments; for, singularly enough, he was dressed in pantaloons, boots, and vest, as if he had not been in bed; his hair was entirely singed off, and his shirt was fast consuming from his arms.—Knick. Mag., x. 286 (Oct.).

1842.  A red-faced individual in a bottle-green coat and greasy pants.—Phila. Spirit of the Times, Aug. 29.

1843.  A young gentleman chastely apparelled in white jean pants of a fashionable cut, an elegant blue coat, and bushy whiskers.—Cornelius Mathews, ‘Writings,’ p. 236.

1846.  

1846.  Brown coats, gray pants, broad-brimmed hats, &c.—Mr. Woodruff of N.Y., House of Repr., July 1: Cong. Globe, p. 1068, Appendix.

1852.  A dandy is a thing in pantaloons, with a body and two arms, head without brains, tight boots, a cane and white handkerchief, two broaches, and a ring on his little finger.—Daily Morning Herald, St. Louis, Dec. 29.

1853.  [He] laments the gradual encroachment of womankind on the territories of pantaloons.—Id., Jan. 26.

1859.  See GRIST.

1860.  Whirling round so quick, the hind side of your pants stuck out before you, you shut your eyes.—Oregon Argus, Oct. 6.

1778.  Had on and took with him a good felt hat, and a shirt and trousers.—Runaway advt., Maryland Journal, Sept. 1.

1802.  [He had on] one pair cloth, one pair tow, and one pair blue and yellow cotton striped trowsers.—Lancaster (Pa.) Journal, July 24.

1808.  Six Cents Reward! Ran away, an indented apprentice, named John Trasher, aged 18 years, light complexion, with blue Jacket and Trowzers on when he went away.—Advt. in Essex Register, Salem, Mass., Sept. 17.

1818.