Overalls

/ˈoʊvərˌɔːlz/ noun

Definition

Overalls are loose pants with an attached front piece and shoulder straps, often worn as work clothes to protect regular clothing.

Etymology

From “overall,” originally meaning a garment worn “over all” other clothes. The word shifted from a general covering garment to this specific style of workwear.

Kelly Says

Overalls are like armor for messy jobs, turning any outfit into a work outfit. Fashion keeps stealing them back from factories and farms, proving that practical design rarely stays in one world.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Overalls are work clothing historically associated with manual labor, often coded as masculine, while women in similar roles were sometimes denied appropriate workwear or sexualized in modified versions. This reflects broader gendered norms around clothing and labor.

Inclusive Usage

Avoid assuming overalls indicate a particular gender; they are functional garments used by people of all genders.

Inclusive Alternatives

["coveralls","workwear","protective clothing"]

Empowerment Note

When discussing industrial and agricultural labor, include the contributions of women workers who wore or fought for practical work clothing, challenging restrictive dress codes.

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