Mysteries of vernacular: Pants - Jessica Oreck

Summary

This script delves into the intriguing history of the term 'pants,' tracing its origins to the 4th-century saint Pantaleon and the Venetian term 'pantaleonis.' It highlights the influence of 'Commedia dell'arte,' an Italian theater form, where the character Pantalone's distinctive trousers inspired the term 'pantaloons.' By the 18th century, the term evolved to describe various trouser styles. The British lower class's abbreviation to 'pants' gained acceptance by the 19th century, as evidenced by Edgar Allan Poe's usage in 1840, solidifying its modern meaning.

Takeaways

• 👖 The term 'pants' refers to an item of clothing that covers the body from the waist to the ankles or knees, with each leg in a separate piece.
• 🏛 The word 'pants' has its origins in the 4th century with Saint Pantaleon, the patron saint of Venice.
• 🎭 In 16th century Italy, the 'commedia dell'arte' theater was born, featuring characters based on stock types, including Pantalone, a Venetian merchant.
• 👉 Pantalone's costume was notable for the distinctive cut of his trousers, which influenced the naming of the garment.
• 🇫🇷 The French began calling these trousers 'pantaloons', a term that evolved from the character's name.
• 📚 By the late 1700s, 'pantaloons' was used to describe any style of trousers.
• 🇬🇧 The term was brought to Britain, where the lower classes abbreviated 'pantaloons' to 'pants'.
• 🤔 Initially, the upper class in Britain considered the term 'pants' as vulgar.
• 📰 The word 'pants' gained wider acceptance and was printed by Edgar Allen Poe in 1840, solidifying its meaning in the English language.
• 🔍 The script provides a historical journey of the word 'pants' from its association with Saint Pantaleon to its modern usage.
• 📈 The evolution of the term reflects cultural and linguistic shifts over centuries, showing how language adapts to societal changes.

Q & A

What is the origin of the word 'pants'?

The word 'pants' originates from the name of Saint Pantaleon, a 4th-century Roman Catholic saint, who was the patron saint of Venice. Venetian traders were called 'pantalonis', and their distinctive trousers became known as 'pantaloons' in French.

How did the term 'pantaloons' come to describe a type of clothing?

In 16th-century Italy, the term 'pantaloons' was used to describe the trousers worn by a character named Pantalone in the commedia dell'arte, a type of comedy theater. This character was a miserly Venetian merchant, and his costume, particularly his trousers, became synonymous with the term.

What was the role of the character Pantalone in commedia dell'arte?

Pantalone was a comic servant character in the commedia dell'arte, known for his miserly nature and distinctive Venetian trader's costume, including his recognizable trousers.

How did the British lower classes adapt the word 'pantaloons'?

The British lower classes shortened 'pantaloons' to 'pants', an abbreviation that was initially considered vulgar by the upper class.

When did the term 'pants' become widely accepted in Britain?

The term 'pants' became a generally accepted term in Britain by the time Edgar Allan Poe printed it in 1840, with the meaning we know today.

What is the significance of Saint Pantaleon in the etymology of 'pants'?

Saint Pantaleon is significant because his name and association with Venice led to the term 'pantalonis', which eventually evolved into 'pantaloons' and then 'pants' as we know it today.

How did the French influence the term 'pantaloons'?

The French began to call the distinctive trousers of the Venetian traders 'pantaloons', which was a direct reference to the name of Saint Pantaleon and the Venetian term 'pantalonis'.

What was the initial perception of the abbreviation 'pants' in the upper class of Britain?

The abbreviation 'pants' was initially considered vulgar by the upper class in Britain, but it eventually gained acceptance and became a standard term.

How did the term 'pants' evolve over time?

The term evolved from 'pantalonis', a term for Venetian traders, to 'pantaloons' in French, referring to a type of trousers worn by a character in commedia dell'arte, and finally to 'pants' in English, which became a widely accepted term for trousers.

What is the connection between the commedia dell'arte and the term 'pants'?

The connection lies in the character Pantalone from the commedia dell'arte, whose distinctive trousers influenced the term 'pantaloons', which later became 'pants'.

What was the role of Edgar Allan Poe in the acceptance of the term 'pants'?

Edgar Allan Poe played a significant role in the acceptance of the term 'pants' by printing it in 1840, which helped to solidify its meaning and usage in the English language.