Jeans
/dʒiːnz/noun
Durable trousers made of denim or similar sturdy cotton fabric.
Did you know?“Jeans” is linked to the city of Genoa and to Nîmes in France—two place-names that helped shape the history of the cloth, even if the pants themselves are a much later invention.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Rome
Latin
Genua
“The city of Genoa in Italy”
Medieval French
French
jeane / jannes
“A sturdy cotton cloth associated with Genoa”
16th Century
English
jean
“A strong twilled cotton fabric used for work clothing”
19th Century
English
jeans
“Trousers made of jean cloth”
Modern English
English
jeans
“Casual trousers, typically made of denim”