slops

noun — 4 senses

slops

noun
1

Obsolete Loose trousers.

  • Chrysippus said that some Philosophers would in open view of all men shew a dozen of tumbling-tricks, yea, without any slops or breeches, for a dozen of olives.1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
  • A pair of slops.a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
2

Nautical, Transport Historical Sailors’ breeches ending just below the knees or above the ankles, worn mainly in XVIII century.

  • The original "slops" were voluminous breeches of about knee length, reminiscent of 17th century "petticoat breeches", worn with stockings; these continue to be depicted as late as 1790s, but trousers, first introduced as slop-clothing in 1720s, were more functional and more popular.2012, Philip Haythornthwaite, Nelson's navy, page 26:
3

Nautical, Transport Dated Clothing and bedding issued to sailors.

4

South Africa plural of slop (“rubber thong sandals”)

Synonyms
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Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.