slops

Noun

slops pl (plural only)

1. (obsolete, plural, plural-only) Loose trousers.
   • Chrysippus said that some Philosophers would in open view of all men shew a dozen of tumbling-tricks, yea, without any slops or breeches, for a dozen of olives.1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC
   • A pair of slops.a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London...
2. (historical, plural, plural-only) Sailors’ breeches ending just below the knees or above the ankles, worn mainly in XVIII century.
   • The original "slops" were voluminous breeches of about knee length, reminiscent of 17th century "petticoat breeches", worn with stockings; these continue to be depicted as late as 1790s, but trousers, first introduced as slop-clothing in 1720s, were more functional and more popular.2012, Philip Haythornthwaite, Nelson's navy, page 26

   Synonyms:

   open-kneed breeches

3. (dated, plural, plural-only) Clothing and bedding issued to sailors.