open-kneed

open-kneed

English

Adjective

open-kneed

1. (historical, of garments) Having wide legs and reaching below the knees but higher than the ankles (not tied or closed at the knees).
   • 1703, Politica (pseudonym), The Levellers: A Dialogue between Two Young Ladies, concerning Matrimony, London: J. How, in The Harleian Miscellany, London: Robert Dutton, 1811, Volume 12, p. 213,

     The coat-sleeves were gloriously cut and slashed, small buttons on the coat, a little bigger than pease; the pockets about a handful below the knees, the breeches were open-kneed, a great deal wider than a Flanderkin’s trousers, hung all around with abundance of little ribbons.

   • 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, London: W. Taylor, 3rd edition, p. 223,

     He had on no Cloaths, but a Seaman’s Wastcoat, a Pair of open-knee’d Linnen Drawers, and a blew Linnen Shirt; but nothing to direct me so much as to guess what Nation he was of […]

Derived terms

open-kneed breeches