bloomer

See also: Bloomer

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbluː.mə(ɹ)/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːmə(ɹ)

Etymology 1

From Middle English blomer, from blome (“iron ingot”) (modern English bloom), from Old English blōma.

Noun

bloomer (plural bloomers)

1. An ironworker.

See also

• Blumer, Bloomer

Etymology 2

bloom +‎ -er.

Noun

bloomer (plural bloomers)

1. (informal, originally Australia) A large or embarrassing mistake; blunder.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:error

   • 1916 March 11, Charles E. Van Loan, “His Folks”, in Saturday Evening Post‎^[1]:

     What's more, I claim that Elmer's biggest mistake wasn't the one he made at Cedarville before six thousand witnesses. His prize bloomer was pulled in Hoboken before three witnesses

   • 1919, P. G. Wodehouse, A Damsel in Distress:

     "You know," pursued Reggie seriously, "I think you are making the bloomer of a lifetime over this hat-swatting chappie. You've misjudged him. He's a first-rate sort. […]

   • 1959, Charles Percy Snow, The Two Cultures‎^[2]:

     In 1933, four years before his death, Rutherford said, firmly and explicitly, that he didn't believe the energy of the nucleus would ever be released—nine years later, at Chicago, the first pile began to run. That was the only major bloomer in scientific judgment Rutherford ever made.

   • 2000 March 12, Stuart Barnes, “Swindon stunner for Curbishley”, in The Guardian‎^[3], →ISSN:

     After 12 successive league wins […] Charlton were nobbled by the First Division's no-hopers, who profited from a goalkeeping bloomer then held on to their lead for dear life.

2. A circular loaf of white bread.
3. A blooming flower.
4. (figurative) One who blooms, matures, or develops.

   She was a late bloomer.

Derived terms

• early bloomer
• late bloomer

Further reading

• Jonathon Green (2024) “bloomer n.²”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Etymology 3

Named after American women's-rights activist Amelia Bloomer (1818–1894), who sought to introduce this style of dress.

Noun

bloomer (plural bloomers)

1. (historical) A reform costume for women, consisting of a short dress with loose trousers gathered around the ankles, and often a broad-brimmed hat.
   • 1884 November 11, Oscar Wilde, “More Radical Ideas Upon Dress Reform”, in Pall Mall Gazette‎^[4]:

     Few garments are so absolutely unbecoming as a belted tunic that reaches to the knees, a fact which I wish some of our Rosalinds would consider when they don doublet and hose; indeed, to the disregard of this artistic principle is due the ugliness, the want of proportion, in the Bloomer costume, a costume which in other respects is sensible.

   • 1912 October, Jack London, “The Taste of the Meat”, in Smoke Bellew, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co, →OCLC:

     Unlike other women landing from the steamers, she was neither short-skirted nor bloomer-clad. She was dressed as any woman travelling anywhere would be dressed.

2. (historical, by extension) A woman who wears a Bloomer costume.
3. attributive form of bloomers
   • 1946, Margot Bennett, Away Went the Little Fish, Garden City, N.Y.: The Crime Club, published 1947, page 211:

     It would have to be smuggled back to Josie’s bloomer drawer. He could persuade her to confirm his other ideas without letting her see that he had read her particularly private correspondence.

   • 2000, Stephen Bly, Janet Bly, Judith and the Judge (The Carson City Chronicles; 1), Waterville, Me.: Thorndike Press, published 2003, →ISBN, page 304:

     “[…] But if the money’s not in your safe, where is it?” Even though they were entirely alone in the massive home, Audrey Adair leaned over and whispered. “In my bloomer drawer, dear. No man would ever look there. […]”

   • 2001, Susan S. Kelly, Even Now, Warner Books, Inc., →ISBN:

     She shrugged helplessly. But I knew why. Ellen still wore baggy, bloomer-type panties decorated with eyelet. The undies were comfortable, but not stylish. Not acceptable. Not like everyone else’s, and she didn’t want them in plain view.

   • 2006, Melissa Hope Ditmore, editor, Encyclopedia of Prostitution and Sex Work, Greenwood Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 484:

     Bura^{[sic – meaning Buru]}-sera (“bloomer seller”) stores sell schoolgirls’ worn underpants (for around 5,000 to 8,000 yen per pair). Buru-sera shops […] have operated since the early 1990s, […]

   • 2010, G. D. Freightman, Ripped & Ready (Season One), Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 36:

     She always kept herself together --nails did, hair done, and always wore a "true lady's" attire. You wouldn't find a thong anywhere in here^{[sic – meaning her]} "bloomer" drawer.

   • 2013, Ramos Winter, Game Over: My Love for Hip Hop, Life Changing Books, →ISBN:

     That was until one day while washing Roc’s clothes, I found some wack ass cheap bloomer panties. Knowing they were hers and that he still hadn’t let her go, I realized it was the last straw.

   • 2020, Allison West, Jailed Little Jade, Blushing Books, →ISBN:

     She pulled a pair of bloomer panties with white lace around the hems. “Hold on to me.” She didn’t let Jade dress herself. Jade reached for Nanny Marie’s shoulders and gripped her dark gray dress, lifting one leg and then the other as her nanny shuffled the panties up to her waist. They were far too puffy and big for her liking. The lace poked out just slightly from under the dress Jade wore, giving a hint of her panties while making her look child-like.

Alternative forms

• Bloomer

Derived terms

• bloomers

Related terms

• Bloomerism

Anagrams

• rebloom

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English bloomers.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /blu.mœʁ/

Noun

bloomer m (plural bloomers)

1. bloomers