suspenders
suspenders Lexical Profile
suspenders Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A pair of straps passed over the shoulders and fastened to the waistband of trousers or a skirt to hold it up.
"He wore a crisp white shirt, dark trousers, and a pair of red suspenders instead of a belt."
British An elastic strap attached to a belt or corset used to hold up a stocking.
"The vintage silk stockings were held securely in place by a lace belt and suspenders."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North American English, 'suspenders' refers to shoulder straps used to hold up trousers (known as 'braces' in the UK). Conversely, in British English, 'suspenders' refers to attachments used to hold up stockings (typically called 'garters' in the US).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the verb 'suspend' (from Latin 'suspendere', meaning 'to hang') combined with the agent suffix '-er'. The term was first used in the late 18th century to describe garment straps designed to hold up clothing.