knee breeches

plural noun

Examples of knee breeches in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
When in 1968 Eliza married Viscount Henry Dermot Ponsonby Moore, better known as the photographer Derry Moore, Bunny would draft Jackie’s children, Caroline and John, then 11 and eight, as flower girl and page boy (in knee breeches, British court style for little boys). Mac Griswold, Town & Country, 15 Nov. 2022 If a new Puritanism is sweeping the nation, the comedy club or Netflix special may be the place where the new cultural arbiters in their knee breeches and petticoats are being the most vociferous. Harry Bruinius, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Nov. 2021 But this isn’t the architectural equivalent of requiring federal workers to wear knee breeches and a tricorn hats. Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2020 His inauguration was also notable for being the first where the new president wore pants rather than knee breeches. Pete Corson, ajc, 8 June 2018 Perhaps the most striking visitor was the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, who wore knee breeches and shoes with prominent silver buckles. Milton Gendel, Vanities, 30 Apr. 2018 And Renaissance Santa sported gold-embroidered burgundy velvet knee breeches and a matching mid-length cape, with an equally elegant Mrs. Claus at his side. National Geographic, 26 July 2016

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of knee breeches was in 1833

Dictionary Entries Near knee breeches

Cite this Entry

“Knee breeches.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knee%20breeches. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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