English Explanatory Dictionary

jeans

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A pair of trousers made from denim cotton.
noun
  1. plural of jean
noun
  1. plural of Jean
name
  1. A surname originating as a patronymic derived from a medieval variant of John.

Pronunciation

jēnz /d͡ʒiːnz/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-jeans.wav

Word forms

jeans jean

Etymology

From Gene(s) (also spelled Jean(s)), an obsolete English name for the Italian city of Genoa. Compare French Gênes. In the context of clothing, the term originally denoted a kind of coarse cotton (known more fully as Gene(s) fustian) that was associated with Genoa. It began to be used for trousers made of such cloth in the 19th century. At this point, the final -s was reanalysed as a plural ending.

Related words

Genoese Genovese 👖

Derived words

bikini jeans blue jeans boyfriend jeans cream in one's jeans cream one's jeans destroyed jeans drainpipe jeans jeanlike jeans jacket jeanswear jeggings jorts mom jeans skinny jeans Jeans escape Rayleigh-Jeans law
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