pantalettes, -lets, n. pl. (rarely in sing.) Chiefly U.S.
(pæntəˈlɛts)
Also (in sing.) pantelette.
[Dim. formation after pantaloon: see -ette.]
a. Loose drawers or ‘trousers’ with a frill at the bottom of each leg, worn by young girls c 1825–53; transf. euphemistically to drawers, trousers (see bloomer), cycling ‘knickerbockers’, or the like, worn by women.
| 1834 Knickerbocker IV. 117 In the first place, in their blushing girlhood, they assume the pantalettes, or little pantaloons. 1838 Southern Lit. Messenger IV. 28/1 Two pretty sisters, in pantalettes, waited on table. 1847 Porter Big Bear 104 (Farmer) If I hadn't a had on pantalets. 1857 Reade Course True Love II. ii. 133 The company..were very severe on this [Bloomer] costume, and proceeded upwards from the pantalettes to the morals of the inventor. 1879 Lond. Soc. Christm. No. 51/2 You are only fit for a pinafore and pantalettes. 1881 in Mrs. Power O'Donoghue Ladies on Horsebk. v. 316 [Mexican horsewomen], clad in loose Turkish pantalettes tucked into the riding-boots of soft yellow leather. 1882 Standard 19 Sept. 5/2 Dr. Mary Walker lectured..in ‘pantalettes’. 1887 J. Ashby-Sterry Lazy Minstrel 229, Song of School-girls, Come the dainty dimpled pets, With their tresses all in nets, And their peeping pantalettes Just in view. 1887 in Girl's Own Paper 8 Oct. 19/3. 1888 N. & Q. 7th Ser. VI. 390. 1897 Daily News 30 Aug. 5/7 There are very pretty possibilities with a short skirt and pantalette [for the bicycle]. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 528 The scanty, daringly short skirt, riding up at the knee to show a peep of white pantelette, is a potent weapon. 1975 R. Player Let's talk of Graves iii. 78 Little girls in pantalettes bowled their hoops. |
b. transf. The frills used to adorn certain joints when brought to the table.
| 1883 Harper's Mag. July 246/1 The paper pantalets which adorn the broiled lamb chop. |
Hence pantaˈletted a., dressed in pantalettes.
| 1865 Mrs. Whitney Gayworthys i, A child of seven, sashed, pantaletted and bronze-booted. 1880 World 31 Mar. 12 The short-frocked pantaletted contingent [of girls]. |