romper
(ˈrɒmpə(r))
[f. romp v. + -er.]
1. One who romps.
| 1842 A. de Vere Song of Faith 206 Boarding-school rompers, academic praters. 1876 T. Hardy Ethelberta (1890) 104 To look wistfully at the sitters when romping and at the rompers when sitting. |
2. Usu. pl. Also romper suit. A one-piece garment for a child to wear at play; a casual one-piece garment worn esp. by young women. (See also quots. 1941, 1943.)
| 1909 Dialect Notes III. 364 Rompers, n. pl. A one-piece garment for children to play in. 1915 R. W. Lardner Bib Ballads 3 Hark! A voice from the easy chair: ‘He hasn't a romper that's fit to wear.’ 1922 Moving Picture Stories 23 June 24/1 The dainty bit of femininity, by the way, wore a suit of gingham rompers. 1922 Westm. Gaz. 20 Oct. 9 (Advt.), An attractive romper suit for a small child is made of white washing material. 1928 L. North Parasites 18 Many of them wore sweaters that would have put Joseph's coat to shame. And very long, very baggy knickers, Hollywood rompers. 1941 Amer. Speech XVI. 186/2 [British Army slang] Rompers, battle dress. 1943 ‘T. Dudley-Gordon’ Coastal Command 85 Sipping hot coffee as he took off his rompers (combined parachute harness and Mae West life-jacket) he told us of his first night raid. 1964 C. Willock Enormous Zoo vii. 128 He wore his one-piece romper suit and his three-foot-wide straw hat. 1970 Women's Wear Daily 23 Nov. 31/2 We see little rompers..as a possible replacement. 1974 A. Goddard Vienna Pursuit ii. 77 A toddler in pale blue rompers. |