What does sock mean?
A sock is a soft or knitted covering worn over the foot, ankle, or lower leg, usually as part of ordinary footwear. In British and American English, socks may be made from wool, cotton, synthetic fibres, or combinations of materials, and the plural socks is standard. The word also has an informal verb meaning: to hit someone with a fist or other hard object, as in “sock him in the jaw.” A further figurative use appears in the compound sock puppet, referring to a person or organization that appears to speak independently but is actually acting for someone else. Sock is therefore both highly familiar as a clothing term and unusually versatile in figurative and colloquial expression. Its simple everyday meaning makes it a useful word for describing clothing, while the informal verb and political metaphor add a more expressive dimension.
A knitted or fabric covering worn over the foot, ankle, or lower leg. In figurative compounds, especially sock puppet, it can refer to a person or figure controlled by another.
"The cat curled up on a sock beside the bed."
The usual plural is socks. In the compound sock puppet, the term refers to a figure whose public role is controlled by someone else.
To strike someone with a fist or another hard object, especially forcefully and casually.
"The two children began socking each other over the disputed toy."
This verb is informal and is often transitive, taking the person struck as its object.
The standard plural of the clothing noun is socks; when referring to footwear generally, a pair of socks is the usual expression.
"She sorted the clean socks by colour before putting them away."
A “sock puppet” may wear a sock, but the real power lies with whoever is pulling the strings.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sock come from?
The English word comes from Old English socc, a Germanic term for a foot covering. It developed into modern English through the Germanic languages, with the present form reflecting the established English pronunciation and spelling. Related words include German Socke, Dutch sok, Danish sok, and Swedish sock, all belonging to the same Germanic lexical family.
Related word forms
How sock is actually used
As a garment term, sock is everyday and usually countable. The verb sock is informal and especially common in expressions such as “sock somebody in the mouth,” while “sock puppet” is a figurative compound with a somewhat critical or humorous connotation.
Easily confused with sock
A sock is a covering worn on the foot, while a sack is a large bag or container, though sack also has unrelated meanings in phrases such as “a sack of groceries.”