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silk stocking

silk stocking

1 3.5
A thin, smooth leg covering for women made of silk or similar cloth
  • noun
  • /sɪlk ˈstɑkɪŋ/
: medias de seda
  • I bought her a white dress and white silk stockings.
  • a pair of silk stockings
  • wearing silk stockings
  • silk stockings and garter

Really great actors, great people on silk stockings.

Examples

  • Mama got a pair of silk stockings and a new comb.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • They passed endless stalls of merchants selling silk stockings, flowers, fresh fruit, and hot noodles in soup.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • "What I want is a pair of silk stockings.

  • I never thought I'd be wearing real silk stockings.

  • I haven't had silk stockings before.

  • Whippy Bird and I could see she was wearing silk stockings with no runs.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • You're never lonely with a pair of silk stockings.

  • "When I get rich, I'm going to have new silk stockings every day of the year and never wear a pair with runs," May Anna told us.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • How would you like to give Frau Schulz silk stockings for Christmas?

  • She wore a beautiful dress paired with elegant silk stockings for the evening party.

Synonyms

stocking
vssilk stocking
14 1.0

A thin garment like a long sock that covers the foot and leg

is the women's sheer version made from smooth, fine fabrics rather than any fabric
nylons
vssilk stocking
8 2.3

Thin stockings that women wear on their legs

is the singular, specific term used for one such garment
nylon stocking
vssilk stocking
1 2.6

A thin close-fitting covering for the foot and leg made of nylon and worn by women

is the general name covering items made from many smooth, sheer fabrics
rayon stocking
vssilk stocking
4.9

A thin, see-through stocking for women made from rayon fiber

is broader and includes items made from other fibers as well

How Sheer

nylons
8 2.3
silk stocking
1 3.5
tights
68 1.0

Surface Forms

silk stocking singular

Morphology

silk + stocking

The meaning 'a stocking made from silk or similar smooth fabric' is directly and compositionally derived from 'silk' (the material) + 'stocking' (the garment), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the phrase. This material+object noun compound is a common, cross-linguistic pattern (e.g., 'silk shirt', 'wooden table'), making the construction transparent.

Etymology

Silk stocking comes from a stocking made of silk, a smooth, expensive cloth. Because silk used to be costly, wearing silk stockings showed 'wealth' and 'style', so today the phrase still means a fine, thin women's stocking.