bloomer

1
[ bloo-mer ]
/ ˈblu mər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR bloomer ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a costume for women, advocated about 1850 by Amelia Jenks Bloomer, consisting of a short skirt, loose trousers gathered and buttoned at the ankle, and often a coat and a wide hat.
bloomers, (used with a plural verb)
  1. loose trousers gathered at the knee, formerly worn by women as part of a gymnasium, riding, or other sports outfit.
  2. women's underpants of similar, but less bulky, design.
  3. the trousers of a bloomer costume.
  4. any of various women's garments with full-cut legs gathered at the bottom edge.

adjective

(of a woman's garment) having full-cut legs gathered at the bottom edge: bloomer shorts.

Origin of bloomer

1
1850–55, Americanism; named after A.J. Bloomer

Words nearby bloomer

bloody-nosed beetle, blooey, blook, bloom, bloomed, bloomer, bloomers, bloomery, bloomfield, bloomfieldian, blooming

Definition for bloomers (2 of 3)

bloomer 2
[ bloo-mer ]
/ ˈblu mər /

noun

a plant that blooms: a night bloomer.
a person who develops skills, abilities, interests, etc., commensurate with his or her capacities: a quiet, methodical child who became a late bloomer.

Origin of bloomer

2
First recorded in 1720–30; bloom1 + -er1

Definition for bloomers (3 of 3)

bloomer 3
[ bloo-mer ]
/ ˈblu mər /

noun

a foolish mistake; blunder.

Origin of bloomer

3
1885–90; bloom(ing) (as euphemism for bloody) + -er1

Words related to bloomers

goof, blooper, stumble, muff, fumble, error, boner, bungle, mistake

Example sentences from the Web for bloomers

British Dictionary definitions for bloomers (1 of 4)

bloomers
/ (ˈbluːməz) /

pl n

informal women's or girls' baggy knickers
(formerly) loose trousers gathered at the knee worn by women for cycling and athletics
Also called: rational dress history long loose trousers gathered at the ankle and worn under a shorter skirt

Word Origin for bloomers

from bloomer, a garment introduced in about 1850 and publicized by Mrs A. Bloomer (1818–94), US social reformer

British Dictionary definitions for bloomers (2 of 4)

bloomer 1
/ (ˈbluːmə) /

noun

a plant that flowers, esp in a specified way a night bloomer

British Dictionary definitions for bloomers (3 of 4)

bloomer 2
/ (ˈbluːmə) /

noun

British informal a stupid mistake; blunder

Word Origin for bloomer

C20: from blooming

British Dictionary definitions for bloomers (4 of 4)

bloomer 3
/ (ˈbluːmə) /

noun

British a medium-sized loaf, baked on the sole of the oven, glazed and notched on top

Word Origin for bloomer

C20: of uncertain origin