long-john

alternative long john · alternative longjohn

1. attributiveOf or relating to long johns (the undergarment).

   While lying down, she wriggled into wool long-john top and bottoms.

   2000, Ian Wilson, Sally Wilson, Wilderness Journey: Reliving the Adventures of Canada’s Voyageurs, West Vancouver, B.C.; Seattle, Wash.: Gordon Soules Book Publishers Ltd., →ISBN, page 190

   2 more examples

   Bloody to the elbows from gutting it, sweat pouring down his joy-reddened face, stripped down to his long-john top despite the twenty-degree cold, he had dragged the deer down from the top of Widdershins where he’d shot it three hours earlier.

   1982, Thomas Mordane, Bloodroot, Dell Books, →ISBN, page 200

   You open your first aid belt, take out a seam ripper, and expertly open the seam of the left pant leg to the knee. Then you open the seam of the left long-john leg to the knee.

   1993, Warren D. Bowman, Outdoor Emergency Care: Comprehensive First Aid for Nonurban Settings, 2nd edition, National Ski Patrol System, Inc., →ISBN, →LCCN, page 207, column 3

plural Long-Johns

1. alternativeAlternative form of Long John (tree).

   Accordingly, yet further back, but still on the spit, a few Long-Johns (Triplaris surinamensis) rise singly; for these, less enduring than the true forest trees, but more so than the trumpet-woods, grow on the soil deposited by the latter, and in their turn prepare the soil for more noble products.

   1883, Everard F[erdinand] im Thurn, “Aspects of Plant-Life. […]”, in Among the Indians of Guiana: Being Sketches Chiefly Anthropologic from the Interior of British Guiana, London: Kegan Paul, Trench & Co., […], page 104

   2 more examples

   Now and then a Long-John, Triplaris surinamensis, in full bloom adds variety to the picture, but, strange to say, the monotony of the river scenery makes its richness all the more impressive. The blossom of the Long-John is not particularly pretty when closely examined, but a tall tree completely covered with these long whitish spikes, which gradually turn pink, has a decidedly pleasing effect.

   1885 November 7, G. Layard, “First Impressions of Tropical Plants: VIII.—Berbice.”, in The Gardeners’ Magazine: […], volume XXVIII, number 1,071, London, page 642, column 1

   However, among the indigenous plants about the city may be found the great Silk-Cotton Tree, Bombax pentandrum, from the large fruit capsules of which is obtained the kapok of commerce; the Sand-Box Tree, Hura crepitans, also a large tree; the Hog Plum, Spondias lutea; and the Long-John, Triplaris surinamensis.

   1934, Annals of the Carnegie Museum, volumes 22-23, page 31