trousers

Where does the word "trousers" come from? It comes from Scottish Gaelic triubhas, passing through English before entering English (1610s).

Trousers’s story begins in Scottish Gaelic: triubhas meant “close-fitting trousers.” Close-fitting tartan leg-wear of the Highlands (Irish triús); its deeper origin is uncertain. By 1560s, the word had taken hold in English as trews. After Culloden, the Dress Act of 1746 banned Highland dress, trews and kilts included, until its repeal in 1782. It reached English by 1610s as trousers. The -ers ending copies 'drawers'; long trousers pushed out knee breeches in men's fashion in the Regency years around the 1810s. Today, trousers means an outer garment covering each leg separately from waist to ankle.

1. Stage 1 · Scottish Gaelic · 1500s triubhas "close-fitting trousers", close-fitting tartan leg-wear of the Highlands (Irish triús); its deeper origin is uncertain.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1560s trews "tartan trousers", after Culloden, the Dress Act of 1746 banned Highland dress, trews and kilts included, until its repeal in 1782.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1610s trousers "two-legged outer garment", the -ers ending copies 'drawers'; long trousers pushed out knee breeches in men's fashion in the Regency years around the 1810s.