bloomers

noun

1. 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.
2. 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

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

noun

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

noun

1. a foolish mistake; blunder.

pl n

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

noun

1. a plant that flowers, esp in a specified waya night bloomer

noun

1. British informal a stupid mistake; blunder

noun

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

n.

1851, named for U.S. feminist reformer Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818-1894), who promoted them. The surname is attested from c.1200, said to mean literally “iron-worker,” from Old English bloma (see bloom (n.2)).

n.

1730, agent noun from bloom (v.).