Shorts
Shorts are a garment worn over the pelvic area, circling the waist and splitting to cover the upper part of the legs, sometimes extending down to the knees but not covering the entire length of the leg. They are called “shorts” because they are a shortened version of trousers, which cover the entire leg, but not the foot. Shorts are typically worn in warm weather or in an environment where comfort and air flow are more important than the protection of the legs.
There are a variety of shorts, ranging from knee-length short trousers that can in some situations be worn as formal clothes to beachwear and athletic shorts. Some types of shorts are typically worn by women, such as culottes, which are a divided skirt resembling a pair of loose-cut shorts.
Shorts (noun)
Trousers worn primarily in the warm weather that do not go lower than the knees.
“Jessica hated covering her legs, so she rarely wore anything but shorts.”
Shorts (noun)
Underwear bottoms.
“After a scare like that, I need to change my shorts.”
Shorts (noun)
Remnants, clippings, trimmings of production processes.
Shorts (noun)
The part of milled grain sifted out which is next finer than the bran; pollard.
Shorts (noun)
Short, inferior hemp.
Pants (noun)
An outer garment that covers the body from the waist downwards, covering each leg separately, usually as far as the ankles; trousers. from 19th c.
Pants (noun)
An undergarment that covers the genitals and often the buttocks and the neighbouring parts of the body; underpants. from 19th c.
Pants (noun)
Rubbish; something worthless.
“You’re talking pants!”
“The film was a load [or pile] of pants.”
Pants (adjective)
Of inferior quality, rubbish.
“Your mobile is pants — why don’t you get one like mine?”
Pants (noun)
underpants or knickers.
Pants (noun)
trousers
“corduroy pants”
“wide pant legs”
Pants (noun)
rubbish; nonsense
“he thought we were going to be absolute pants”