Hose are any of various styles of men's

clothing Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the human body, body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials ...

for the legs and lower body, worn from the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

through the 17th century, when the style fell out of use in favour of breeches and

stocking Stockings (also known as hose, especially in a historical context) are close-fitting, variously elastic garments covering the leg from the foot up to the knee or possibly part or all of the thigh. Stockings vary in color, design, and transpare ...

s. The old plural form of "hose" was "hosen". In German these terms (''Hose'', singular, and ''Hosen'', plural) remained in use and are the generic terms for trousers today. The French equivalent was ''chausses''.

History

Since the 13th century, hose were already known to have been worn in Europe; these were tights that stretch from waist to feet. The outline of the legs were conspicuously shown, with the groin area sometimes covered by a material called a codpiece. However, unlike modern tights, these hose were not elastic; they were held firm while laced to the doublet and tied from small holes. During the 14th century, medieval hoses were made of wool and were made to fit tightly. Towards the end of the century traders and shopkeepers wore coloured hoses. Some people did away with wearing shoes and instead wore a hose that had leather soles sewn under the foot section. This part of the hose being the same colour as the rest of the leggings. Brighter hoses seem to be more prominent by the late 14th century, and seem to resemble more of trousers that was held up with rope-belts at the waist; hose were sometimes tied directly to the doublet. 15th century hose were often made particolored or ''mi-parti'', having each leg having a different colour, or even one leg made of two colors. These early hose were footed, in the manner of modern tights, and were open from the crotch to the leg. When very short doublets were in fashion, codpieces were added to cover the front opening. By the 16th century, hose had separated into two garments: ''upper hose'' or ''breeches'' and ''nether hose'' or stockings. From the mid-16th to early 17th centuries, a variety of styles of hose were in fashion. Popular styles included: *''Trunk hose'' or ''round hose'', short padded hose. Very short trunk hose were worn over ''cannions'', fitted hose that ended above the knee. * ''Slops'' or ''galligaskins'', loose hose reaching just be