pantyhose
UK[ˈpænt.i.həʊz]US[ˈpæn.t̬i.hoʊz]
n
a single garment that covers a woman's body from the waist to the toes, combining panties and stockings.
Morpheme Breakdown
panty
hose
panty
short for panties
hose
stockings
Etymology
the word 'pantyhose' is a modern english compound, formed in the mid-20th century. the first element, 'panty', is a diminutive and shortening of 'panties', which itself derives from 'pants', a shortening of 'pantaloons'. the second element, 'hose', has a long history in english, originating from old english 'hosa', meaning a covering for the leg. by the 1960s, as fashion trends favored miniskirts, the need arose for a single, sheer garment that combined the functions of underpants and stockings, leading to the logical and descriptive coinage 'pantyhose'. it is a transparent compound where the combined literal meanings of its parts directly convey the modern product's function.
Analysis
Structure: panty (short for panties) + hose (stockings)
panty (english, short form of 'panties', a type of undergarment) + hose (english, from middle english, meaning leg covering or stocking)
Examples
she bought a pair of sheer pantyhose to wear with her new dress.
in the winter, many women switch from pantyhose to opaque tights for warmth.
the dancer's costume required flesh-colored pantyhose.