pantaloon

Borrowed from French pantalon, from Italian Pantalone, 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 (pan) and λέων (léōn).

• Rhymes: -uːn

pantaloon (plural pantaloons)

1. An aging buffoon.
   • 1593, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, Act III, Sc. 1, l. 37

     Hic 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 234

     They 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 213

     The 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.