small clothesn.
/ˈsmɔːl ˌkləʊðz/, U.S. /ˈsmɔl ˌkloʊ(ð)z/, /ˈsmɑl ˌkloʊ(ð)z/ 1. Small items of clothing; spec. underclothes. Cf. small n.2 9b(b). Now rare.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > other
disguise1340
disguisingc1386
shiftc1570
French cut1606
knaverya1616
small clothes1625
small storesa1643
nugging-dress1699
kilting1721
fancy dress1770
under-habit1772
man-millinery1790
sheen1802
costume1818
ingubu1833
bedizenment1837
tat1839
extravaganza1860
rational dress1873
rubber1876
pearly1890
new look1920
collection1921
Daks1933
smart casual1943
separates1945
trapeze1958
Carnaby Street1965
haute boutique1966
kinderwhore1994
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > underwear > [noun]
linenc1330
napery1598
small clothes1625
linings1631
unders1731
underdress1788
unmentionable1791
unexpressible1810
underclothes1824
underclothing1835
unmentionabilities1840
underthings1864
underwear1872
under-gear1883
innerwear1904
scanty1928
smalls1934
long john1941
skivvy1945
1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes III. v. vii. 1100 400. burdens of Maxtlactle, which serued for small cloathes.
1669 A. Woodhead tr. 2nd Pt. Life Holy Mother xxviii. 176 Having brought nothing with us, but that we carried on our backs, and some woollen Shifts, and small Clothes.
1757 Du Plessis's Mem. II. xxxiv. 250 The Husband was drying of his Wife's Small-Cloathes by the Fire, after a very singular fashion. As fast as she wrung them out, they were pinned upon him; here a Stocking, there a Clout, here a Cap.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. xi. 108 They can do up small cloaths.
1790 New Spain i. i. 9 I know that charming fellow as well as I know the cut of your Ladyship's small cloaths.
1991 P. Marshall Daughters (1992) ii. i. 124 The pretty new dress half off her now, and he's tearing at her small clothes.
2. Breeches; knee breeches. Cf. small n.2 9b(a). Now historical.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and lower body > [noun] > trousers > types of > breeches
breecha1100
breeka1300
femoralc1450
hosec1460
breecha1500
overstocks1543
strossers1598
strouses1600
breeching1604
brogues1615
trousies1652
small clothes1770
knee-breeches1829
smalls1836
breekums1839
culotte1842
sine qua nons1850
terminations1863
trouserettes1875
strides1889
knee-breech1904
1770 R. Griffith & E. Griffith Lett. Henry & Frances VI. dccxxxix. 181 I find that I have lost..a Pair of my Small-Cloaths—they belong to the Pompadour suit.
1796 J. Hunter Trav. 297 The immensity of their breeches, (for, in spite of the fashionable phrase, it would certainly be a perversion of terms to call them small-clothes).
1810 W. Combe Schoolmaster's Tour in Poet. Mag. Nov. 39 One who was quite in fashion drest..His small-clothes sat so close and tight.
1841 W. M. Thackeray Great Hoggarty Diamond iii Two great footmen, with red whiskers and yellow plush smallclothes.
1883 J. Hawthorne Dust I. 84 He leaned back in his chair, with one hand in the pocket of his small-clothes.
1923 ‘S. Martin’ Transformation Philip Jettan iii. 26 The Apparition wore a coat of palest apricot cloth, with a flowered vest of fine brocade, and startling white small-clothes.
1996 L. Robertson-Lorant Melville (1998) i. 7 Wearing the revolutionary tricorne hat and ‘small clothes’.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [noun] > wearing trousers > one who
small clothes1825
trouser-wearer1843
1825 S. T. Coleridge Lett., Conversat., & Recoll. II. 210 An audience of respectable smallclothes and petticoats.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1625