boot-cut

boot-cut — adjective

1. describing trousers or jeans that are cut narrow down to the knee and then becom

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describing trousers or jeans that are cut narrow down to the knee and then become slightly wider toward the bottom, so the cloth fits well over the wearer's boots.

Example

Romi wore a pair of boot-cut jeans with brown leather boots to the office party.

collocation: boot-cut jeans / boot-cut trousers

The shop on Second Street sells boot-cut trousers in dark blue and black.

Common collocations
  • boot-cut jeans
  • boot-cut trousers
  • boot-cut pants
  • boot-cut style
  • boot-cut denim
Synonyms
  • flared

    wider from the knee down; a more dramatic shape than boot-cut

Antonyms
  • straight-leg

    same width from knee to ankle, no widening at the bottom

  • slim-fit

    narrow throughout the leg, including at the ankle

Grammar Patterns

boot-cut + [noun] (jeans/trousers/pants)

be + boot-cut

Usage Note

Boot-cut is different from flared or bell-bottom styles, which are much wider from the knee down. Boot-cut stays narrow through most of the leg and widens only slightly at the very bottom.

Common Mistakes

I bought flare jeans for wearing with boots.
I bought boot-cut jeans for wearing with boots.
Flare jeans are much wider from the knee; boot-cut jeans are only slightly wider at the ankle, making them more practical for boots.

Word family

  • bootcut
    adjectiveB1
  • boot-cut jeans
    nounB1

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • pair of boot-cut jeans
  • boot-cut fit
  • boot-cut style

Etymology

EnglishEnglish (compound)

Formed by combining boot and cut (from the tailoring term 'cut,' referring to the shape or style of a garment). The term dates back to the mid-20th century, when Western and cowboy fashion popularised trousers cut wide enough at the bottom to fit over riding boots.