support stocking
- noun
- /səˈpɔrt ˈstɑkɪŋ/
- Specialized
- Patients with circulatory issues often find relief by wearing support stockings during the day.
- wear support stockings
Examples
-
She also has osteoarthritis and requires support stockings to be worn in the morning.
Academic text (2010) -
" In her baggy summer dress and support stockings, Miss Hyde looked much like any very old woman.
Fiction book (1997) -
Many doctors recommend using support stockings to help alleviate symptoms of varicose veins.
-
For long flights, it is advisable to wear support stockings to reduce the risk of swelling.
Synonyms
Stockings that help blood move in the legs and reduce pressure on veins
How Supportive
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase denotes a stocking that provides support, so its meaning is directly derivable from 'support' (to give help or reinforcement) modifying 'stocking' (a hosiery garment). This modifier+head composition follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the intended medical/supportive sense.
Etymology
Support stocking comes from the simple picture of a tight stocking that gently supports the leg by squeezing it to help blood move up and reduce swelling, so it now means 'a stretchy stocking used to improve blood flow and ease tired or aching legs'.