Hosiery is a category of close-fitting, knitted legwear that covers the leg from the foot to the knee or thigh, including stockings, tights, and socks. It is worn for warmth, fashion, or support, and is typically made from materials like nylon, silk, or cotton blends. As a noun, hosiery refers to the collective items or the craft of making such garments.
"She bought a sheer pair of black hosiery to wear with her evening dress."
"The store specializes in luxury hosiery, including opaque tights and sheer stockings."
"He complimented the elegant hosiery she wore to the gala."
"Stockings and garters were part of the vintage hosiery set she displayed for the photo shoot."
Hosiery derives from the noun hosiery, which traces to the mid-15th century from the Old French hose, meaning ‘stocking’ or ‘pantyhose,’ itself rooted in the Latin os + ium denoting a connective fabric or garment. The term evolved in English to refer specifically to knitted leg coverings rather than generic clothing. By the 18th and 19th centuries, hosiery became specialized: stockings (narrow, thigh-high or knee-length) and later tights (full-leg coverings with a tighter knit). The modern sense expands to a broad category of legwear administered in fashion, retail, and garment construction. The word’s early usage emphasized the material and craft (knitted hose) and gradually narrowed toward specific items like stockings and tights as fashion diversified. First known uses appear in Middle English texts and later in early modern inventories that describe knitted fabrics for legs, evolving as industrial textile production transformed the availability and styles of hosiery.
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Words that rhyme with "Hosiery"
-ory sounds
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Hosiery is pronounced hoh-zee-ree with the primary stress on the second syllable: /ˈhoʊ.ziˌri/ in US and UK IPA. Start with a long O as in 'go,' then a clear z sound, then a long E sound before a final 'ree' with a rolling or relaxed r depending on accent. Mouth positions: mouth opens slightly on the first syllable V, place tongue tip near the alveolar ridge for /z/, then relax into 'ee' and finish with a light 'ree' sound. In rapid speech you may hear /ˈhoʊ.ziˌri/ collapsing slightly, but keep the /zi/ sequence distinct for clarity.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying ho-SI-ery with first-syllable stress) and conflating /zi/ with /zɪ/ or mispronouncing the final -ery as /ri/ or /riː/. Correct by securing the secondary stress on the third syllable and ensuring the /z/ is voiced clearly between /oʊ/ and /i/. Practice the sequence HOH-ZEE-REE with a slight pause after the second syllable to preserve the natural cadence. Recording yourself helps you hear the subtle vowel lengths and the rhotic or non-rhotic ending.
In US English, /ˈhoʊ.zi.ɹi/ often has a rhotic final /ɹ/ and clear /oʊ/ and /i/ vowels. UK and other non-rhotic variants may soften the final /ɹ/ or drop it before a vowel-initial word, sounding closer to /ˈhəʊ.zi.ri/ or /ˈhəʊ.zɪ.əri/. Australian tends toward /ˈhəʊ.zɪ.ɹi/ with a shorter 'o' quality and a more clipped final syllable. Across all, the mid syllable /zi/ remains a prominent unit; keep the z sound sharp and the second syllable clearly stressed.
The difficulty comes from the cluster in 'hosi-' plus the 'ery' ending, which alternates in stress and syllable length across dialects. The /hoʊ/ nucleus requires a rounded, prolonged vowel, while /zi/ demands precise voicing, and the final /ri/ can blur in fast speech. Additionally, non-native speakers may mispronounce as 'ho-sir-y' or 'hose-ee-ree' with wrong vowel lengths. Practice the three-syllable rhythm slowly, then accelerate while maintaining distinct /oʊ/ and /i/ vowels and a clear /z/ before the final /i/.
The primary stress sits on the first syllable in many deliberate or catalog-like utterances, but in fast or natural speech you’ll often see a secondary emphasis on '-si-' with a smoother transition to the final '-ery.' Be mindful of the final -ery suffix becoming a quick '-ree' rather than a full syllable; keep the final /ri/ light. Also, ensure the /z/ is not devoiced at the boundary with a following vowel, which can mute the middle syllable.
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