Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- Scot a strap or string secured round a trouser leg below the knee, formerly worn esp by farm workers to keep the trouser bottoms clear of dirt
also nicky tam, “garter worn over trousers,” 1911, from Scottish, from shortened form of knickers + Scottish & northern English dialect taum, from Old Norse taumr “cord, rein, line,” cognate with Old English team (see team). Originally a string tied by Scottish farmers around rolled-up trousers to keep the legs of them out of the dirt.