hosiery
Stockings, socks, tights, and pantyhose collectively, especially when sold in a retail environment.
Hosiery is an industry-standard term that encompasses all legwear, but in consumer contexts, it usually refers to sheer, nylon-based stockings and pantyhose rather than thick athletic socks.
Word relationships
- legwear: Legwear is a modern, casual term that includes leggings, whereas hosiery specifically implies knitted or sheer stockings and socks.
Commonly confused with
- tights: Tights are typically opaque and thick, whereas hosiery is a broad category that includes very sheer, delicate pantyhose.
Word family
- hosier (noun): A person who makes or sells stockings and socks.
Collocations
- sheer hosiery
- hosiery department
- elastic hosiery
- fine hosiery
Example sentences
- "The hosiery department is located on the ground floor, right next to the cosmetics counter." A department store directory.
- "The introduction of nylon in 1939 completely transformed the hosiery industry, causing massive lines outside department stores." A historical analysis of 20th-century fashion.
Memory hook
Think of watering your garden with a plastic 'hose'. Hosiery is the tight, tube-like fabric you slide your legs into, just like a hose. Hosiery: Fabric hoses for your legs.
When not to use
Do not use to describe footwear like shoes or boots, or leg coverings that do not cover the foot (like leg warmers).
Fun facts
- During World War II, nylon was rationed for parachutes, leading to a severe shortage of hosiery. Women would paint their legs with gravy browning and draw a black line down the back to mimic stocking seams.
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