different between drawers vs smalls

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /d???z/
• (Received Pronunciation, General Australian, General New Zealand) IPA^(key): /d???z/
• Rhymes: -??(r)z

Etymology 1

See drawer.

Noun

drawers

1. plural of drawer

Derived terms

• chest of drawers

Translations

Etymology 2

From draw (“to pull”), hence that which is pulled onto the body. Attested from the late 16th century. Compare drawer.

Noun

drawers pl (plural only)

1. (archaic) Clothing worn on the legs, especially that worn next to the skin, such as hose or breeches.
2. (dated or regional, informal) Underpants, especially long underpants.
3. (slang) Any clothing covering the legs, such as shorts, trousers, or tights.

Derived terms

• get the drawers

Translations

References

Anagrams

• redraws, rewards, warders

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /sm??lz/
• (US) IPA^(key): /sm?lz/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /sm?lz/
• Rhymes: -??lz

Etymology 1

From small.

Noun

smalls pl (plural only)

1. (Britain, Australia, informal) Underwear.
2. Small goods.
3. (Oxford University slang, dated) The preliminary examination for a degree.
4. (informal) Short for small ads.
   • 1957, Morton J. A. McDonald, How to Use Classified Advertising to Sell More Real Estate (page 21)

     Provincial English papers still carry their “smalls” — want ads — on the first page.

Synonyms

• (underwear): undies, unmentionables; see also Thesaurus:underwear
• (preliminary examination): little go, responsions

Etymology 2

Noun

smalls

1. plural of small

Verb

smalls

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of small