The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-08

read our replies to a correspondent in New Jersey
who sought light on the subject OF the proper
vest" necktie, and shirt studs for evening
wear. propounds q series Of questions which
may be resolved into these two:
l.. Which is correct, vest or waistcoatT
2. "Where does the word trousers como
rom and what is the origin Of 'pantaloons'
and 'pantsf"
without assuming to decide summarily and
arbitrarily upon the relative merits of west
and waistcoat," we may say at the outset that
the latter word has the right of way, as it were.
1t was the first to be applied to tho garment
worn around the waist of the manly form. Many
years ago Oliver Wendell Holmes spoke of
The dangerous waistcoat called by cockneys west"
According to the definition of the old diction-
aries, it is "a garment without sleeves, worn
under a coat" In other words, "waistcoat" is
old English; vest" is more modern. Pepys. in
his diary, wherein great and little things were
all recorded with impartial fulness, sets down
the fact that he has bought "a new black baize
waiste-coat faced with silk"
1t Is apparent that the word west is an alb
breviation of "~vestment." an exceedingly com.
prehensive and archaic term applied to all the
garments worn by any person. male or female.
For example, Milton, describing the appearance
of the Archangel Michael, who visited Satan
e as man to man" says that the celestial caller
was we'll dressed. and
Over his lucid arms
military vest of purple flowed.
This indicated a robe, not a waistcoat. And q
very much older poet wrote:
A painted vest Prince vortigern had on.
Which from a naked Pict his grnndsire won.
We leave to others the calculation of tho
problem of the nskedness of the Pict and his
wearing a vest, though naked. But here again
it is clear that the west is a full garment. not
o waistcoat. William Browne in his Britain
nia." written in 1913 and along there. says:
And with her armes graceth waist.coate hne
Embracing him as IL would ne'er untwine.
In this case the waistcoat was evidently worn
just where a woman's arms would most nat.
urally be entwined.
The case then is pretty clearly made out in
favor OF the waistcoat, called by cockncys
vest" according to the Boston poet.
The word "trowsers" (moderniZcd into 'trou-
sers') seems to be derived from the verb "to
truss" or ito trow," or bind, or Tie, SO called
perhaps from the garment being girt or laced
tight about the body. Before the invention of
suspenders tonce called "gallowses'). mems
trousers were grit or fastened about the hips
by a girdle or belt. Michael Drayton, in his
monumental work, "Polyolbion." written in
1922. refers to
The poor trowz'd Irish there.
Whose mantl es stood for mail. whose skins for
corselets were.
The same word is used in Mickle's "Lusiad."
where "warlike trowsers" are mentioned as
part Of q hero's neither equipment. being +" laced
with gold and incasing "his manly legs" Tho
modern "pantaloons" is a vile word. foisted
upon us by the French. though possibly derived
from the Italian "pantalone," or 'pantaleon."
The pantomimic character who bears that name
is an old man. the butt of youthful Harlequin.
Shakespeare lean and %slippered Pantaloon "
is the parent OF the reproach now cast upon the
bifurcated garment better known as trousers.
Butler. In his "Hudibras." spurns the Gallo
word:
And as the French we conauor'd onos
Now give us laws for pantaloons.
The length OF breeches.
That is to say, the French were then giving
fashions to England, lengthoning their knee
breeches into "pantaloons." AS for the word
pants hardly anything too contemptuous can
DO said OF 1t. Oliver Wendell Holmes, to quote
the Boston poet once moro. puts pants" and
vest" into the same category when he says:
The things named pants" in certain m
A word not made for gentlemen. but /" gents"
To SUN up; Pants" "pantaloons." and
"vest" may be relegated to the usage of the
vulgar and the word-clipping multitude. The
waistcoat and the trousers were good enough
for our ancestors. They should be good enough
for us.