wide-leg
Meaning
(of trousers or jeans) having legs that are very wide from the hips or thighs to the hem.
Structure
Usage
She paired the silk blouse with a pair of elegant wide-leg trousers.
Wide-leg jeans from the 1970s have made a major comeback in recent seasons.
For a comfortable yet polished look, consider trousers in a wide-leg silhouette.
Etymology
The compound adjective "wide-leg" is a modern descriptive term from the fashion industry, formed by directly combining two native English words. "Wide," with its Proto-Germanic root wīdaz, conveys the core concept of broad spatial extent. "Leg," from Proto-Germanic lagjaz, refers specifically to the limb. The compound logically describes a garment cut where the trouser legs maintain a significant breadth throughout their length, contrasting with tapered or straight fits. Its formation follows the straightforward English pattern of adjective-noun compounding to create a clear, functional descriptor for a specific style.
Analysis
- wide: From Old English wīd (spacious, extensive), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wijd and German weit. Functions as an adjective describing breadth. - leg: From Old Norse leggr, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch been and German Bein. Functions as a noun denoting a limb.