ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stocking

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈstɑkɪŋ// UK //stˈɒkɪŋ// stock·ing

n. a piece of clothing that fits tightly over your foot and leg. You usually wear them in pairs, and they are often made of thin material like nylon.

n. a close-fitting garment covering the foot and part or all of the leg. Often refers to sheer hosiery worn by women or the large decorative socks hung up at Christmas.


SIMPLE

She bought a new pair of black stockings for the party.

CONTEXTUAL

The children woke up early to see what treats were hidden inside their Christmas stockings.

COMPLEX

In the mid-twentieth century, the introduction of nylon revolutionized the production of stockings, making them more durable and affordable for the general public.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From stock (“cover with material”) + -ing. Corruption of old plural -en, i.e. stocken, now singular.

Etymology 2

From stock + -ing.

Usage

Usually used in the plural when referring to clothing; the singular form is common when referring to the Christmas decoration.

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