ˈoutsize, n. and a.
[f. out a. + size n.1]
A. n. a. A person or thing larger than the normal or the majority; esp. a ready-made garment larger than the standard sizes. Also transf. b. Greater size than normal.
| 1845 Ainsworth's Mag. VII. 213 The borrowed child being ra-ther an out-size..rendered Cora's carrying him a matter of difficulty. 1883 Morning Star (Washington) 31 Oct. 3/6 A stocking of an out size is one with the same foot as another, but wider in the..middle [of the leg]. 1894 Eng. Illustr. Mag. Oct. 91 She was ‘rather an out size’ as they say in the Duchy. 1902 E. Nesbit Five Children & It viii. 211 Robert was indeed what a draper would call an ‘out-size’ in boys. 1924 Mod. Draper II. 69 With regard to all ladies' underclothing it is necessary to keep a good assortment of outsizes. 1924 A. Christie Man in Brown Suit xii. 96 ‘I don't think he'll have any out sizes,’ murmured Pagett, measuring my figure with his eye. 1933 Chesterton St. Thomas Aquinas i. 14 In the present case the outline is rather an outsize. The gown that could contain that colossal friar is not kept in stock. 1957 M. B. Picken Fashion Dict. 238/2 Outsize, size larger than the regular sizes; generally used for sizes larger than 46 bust. Also applied to hosiery having a top larger than average. 1970 V. Gielgud Candle-Holders i. iv. 34 This impression of massive outsize was only exaggerated by the sight of George Eltham standing at the top of the flight of shallow steps which linked the drive with the great front doors. |
B. adj. Larger than the average, usual, or stock size. Also transf. Also ˈoutsized ppl. a. Hence outˈsizeness, the fact or quality of being outsize.
| 1880 Good Words 46/1 He was what is sometimes called an ‘outsized man’..imposing in appearance. c 1890 in American Mail Order Fashions (1961) 12 Ladies' outsize plated silk hose. 1895 Westm. Gaz. 20 July 2/1 She was a great outsized woman. 1904 H. G. Wells Food of Gods i. ii. 19 He conceived a picture of coops and runs, outsize and still more outsize coops, and runs progressively larger. 1906 Westm. Gaz. 5 May 5/1 ‘An out-sized cat, I call him,’ remarked the cook soon after his arrival. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 715 A pair of outsize ladies' drawers of India mull, cut on generous lines. 1928 Blackw. Mag. May 709/1 A valley of utter desolation,..with an outsize snow mountain..at either end of it. 1937 Auden & MacNeice Lett. from Iceland xii. 173 She wears an amazing woollen helmet with earflaps which combined with her goggles and general outsizeness makes her look like a piece of Archaic Greek sculptuary. 1952 Manch. Guardian Weekly 9 Oct. 3/4 The Republicans are undoubtedly united in an outsize bed where there is room for everybody except the few liberals who got the General [sc. Eisenhower] his nomination. 1958 Times 31 Oct. 3/5 Her voice is of a rich mezzo-soprano quality, not outsize, but certainly amply big enough for most lieder. 1974 A. Williams Gentleman Traitor v. 86 He..dressed in an outsize suit of white slub-silk. 1976 Publishers Weekly 26 Apr. 3/3 (Advt.), A massive, out-sized book of more than 800 pages. |