sack-backn.adj.
/ˈsakbak/, U.S. /ˈsækˌbæk/ Fashion.
A. n.
1. On a garment, esp. a woman's gown: a loose-fitting back, with panels of fabric falling, typically in two box pleats, from just below the shoulders to the hem. Also: a garment having such a back.The style was popular in the 18th century; since then usage of the word has been historical: see quot. 1797.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > dress, robe, or gown > parts of > other
square1579
underbody1621
stay1688
sack-back1784
underdress1806
tablier1820
overdress1848
pouf1869
Watteau pleat1873
Watteau school1891
Watteau back1899
collar-band1907
1784 Public Advertiser 21 Apr. 4/3 (advt.) Italian Gown and Coat.., made with a Sacque Back to wear occasionally, being the last new Dress from Paris.
1797 E. J. Eyre Fatal Sisters 137 Ruffled-cuffs and sack-backs were then very common.
1834 Atlas 22 June 397/2 We recommend the [costume] exhibition not only to the curious in sacquebacks and hoop petticoats.
1862 Dublin Univ. Mag. June 728/1 Something of the date and state of the Fifteenth Louis.., a magnificent country of powder, plumes, sackbacks.., and strawberry coloured brocades.
1913 T. Hughes Dress Design (1920) vii. 206 A wide pleat or two came from the shoulders down the front sometimes as a continuation of the sack-back.
2011 K. Haulman Politics Fashion 18th-cent. Amer. 36 Women of means adopted both the robe à la anglaise and the ‘sack back’, or robe à la Française.
2. On a coat, jacket, dress, etc.: a loose back falling from shoulder to hem without a defined waistline, evoking or inspired by the 18th-cent. style (see sense A. 1). Also: a garment having such a back.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > other > parts of
sack-back1854
peplum1866
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > jacket > long > parts of
sack-back1854
peplum1866
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > coat > parts of > other
ventc1430
buttonhole1709
boot-sleeve1733
brandenburgs1753
scye1830
flash1837
sack-back1854
1854 Godey's Lady's Bk. Oct. 388 It [sc. a satin cloak]..appears exceedingly simple in construction, being a plain sack back.
1891 Demorest's Family Mag. Apr. 382/2 A reefer-front jacket with sacque back, the fullness fastened into the waist at the back with a strap and buttons.
1911 A. Kenealy Mating of Anthea x. 126 This sac-back filled her with a sense of baffled exasperation... Here was a country lawyer's wife wearing a tea-gown without the least pretence of waist.
1958 Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas) 21 Sept. b3/8 (advt.) Teen-Junior Coats... The new look with sack back, tricky side bows, perky push up sleeves.
2007 Times 10 Oct. (Times2 section) 8/3 Dresses and capes with draping that loops up into puffy sack-backs.
B. adj.
1. Of a coat, jacket, dress, etc.: having a loose back falling from shoulder to hem without a defined waistline (see sense A. 2); of or characteristic of such a garment.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [adjective] > jacket
sack-back1892
blouson1904
peplumed1931
Eisenhower1945
loafer1959
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [adjective] > other
cod-pieced1579
pectoral1616
peasecod-bellied1650
wrapping1787
tunical1805
shad-bellied1832
odalisque1837
peplum1866
pubic1892
sack-back1892
middy1894
sarong1913
hip-hugger1932
bloused1935
snake hook1944
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [adjective] > coat > other
full-dressed1752
broad-skirted1809
swallow-tailed1824
shad-bellied1832
square-tailed1837
cut-off1840
cutaway1841
sack1847
raglan1858
swing-back1862
Prince Albert1873
box back1892
highwayman1892
sack-back1892
sport utility1925
teddy bear1925
Redfern1932
sports utility1940
Crombie1951
1892 Standard 8 Apr. 6/1 A long sacque back coaching coat, lined with brocaded silk.
1905 Wool & Cotton Reporter 18 May 550/4 Most men have a preference for a coat that is fairly loose in the back, but yet not a ‘sack-back’ coat.
1956 Manch. Guardian 29 Aug. 3/3 A sack-back tunic line has the fullness held by a low martingale.
1985 T. Tierney Great Fashion Designs of Fifties Pl. 11 (caption) 1956 Balenciaga Sack-back day dress.
2014 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) (Nexis) 31 Mar. (Features section) 8 Chitose Abe at Sacai sent out sack-back silhouettes and trapeze dresses made from sporty fabrics in athletic shades of green and coral.
2. historical. Of a garment, esp. a woman's gown: having a loose-fitting back with panels of fabric falling, typically in two box pleats, from just below the shoulders to the hem (see sense A. 1); of or characteristic of such a garment.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [adjective] > dress, robe, or gown
rumped1601
princess1866
princess cut1875
useful1879
bedgowny1885
vestless1888
sack-back1913
Winterhalter1913
sun top1937
culotte1966
1913 T. Hughes Dress Design vii. 206 The sack-back dress was very full, and started right across the shoulders in two double box-pleats.
1931 A. E. Richardson Georgian Eng. ii. 25 In the reign of George I., these dresses were succeeded by the ‘sack-back’ type.
1983 A. Ribeiro Visual Hist. Costume: 18th Cent. 55/1 She wears a sack-back jacket (petenlair) of yellow satin.
2002 A. de la Haye in C. Breward et al. Englishness of Eng. Dress ix. 156 The back of the dress falls from the shoulders recalling eighteenth-century sack-back styles.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1784