Pantaloon

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -uːn

Origin

Borrowing from fr pantalon, from Italian Pantaleone, a traditional character in 16th-century Italian comedy. See “Commedia dell'arte” in Wikipedia. The name is of Ancient Greek origin and loosely translates as "entirely lion." See παν and λέων.

Full definition of pantaloon

Noun

1. An aging buffoon.
• 1593, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, Act III, Sc. 1, l. 37Hic ibat, as I told you before, —Simois, I am
  Lucentio, hic est, son unto Vincentio of Pisa,—
  Sigeia tellus, disguised thus to get your love; —
  Hic steterat, and that Lucentio that comes
  a-wooing, — Priami, is my man Tranio, —
  regia, bearing my port, celsa senis, that we
  might beguile the old pantaloon.
• 1882, William Ballantine, Some Experiences of a Barrister's Life, page 234They constantly followed the virtuous pair, who as constantly eluded their grasp, whilst they themselves met with every kind of misfortune, until they became clown and pantaloon, ….
• 1960, Lady Caroline Lane Reynolds Slemmer Jebb, With Dearest Love to All: The Life and Letters of Lady Jebb, page 213The Bishop is a lean and slippered pantaloon, at least in his old clerical garments which he thinks good enough for the sea.
2. Trousers reminiscent of the tight-fitting leggings traditionally worn by a pantaloon.
3. A kind of fabric.