What does trews mean?
Trews are close-fitting trousers, especially the tartan trousers associated with Scottish Highland dress. Although the word ends in -s, it is conventionally a plural-only noun: a wearer has a pair of trews, not a trew. In modern usage it most often refers to the formal or military-style trousers worn with Highland dress, including by pipe bands and dancers; historically, they also provided an alternative to the kilt for men whose circumstances called for trousers. The spelling and the final -s are pronounced, so trews rhymes with shoes. Outside Scotland, the word can sound quaint or regionally marked, while within Scottish and Highland cultural contexts it is ordinary and specific. Trews are worth knowing because they sit at the intersection of practical clothing and national tradition: functional trousers that also carry a strong identity in ceremonial dress.
nounClose-fitting trousers, especially the tartan trousers worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress.
- Close-fitting trousers, especially tartan trousers worn as part of Scottish Highland dress.
"At the piping competition, the drummers adjusted their tartan trews."
"At the piping competition, the drummers adjusted their tartan trews."
"The regiment's dress uniform includes tartan trews."
The noun is conventionally plural-only and is used with a pair of when one pair is meant.
"She bought a new pair of trews for the ceremony."
Trews are Highland trousers that can stand in for a kilt.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does trews come from?
Trews is a Scottish form of trousers, with the plural ending retained. Trousers was borrowed into Middle English from Old French, whose source was ultimately Latin. Related English forms such as truss, trousse, and trussing reflect the same French–Latin ancestry.
How trews is actually used
The term is most natural in Scottish and ceremonial Highland contexts; outside them, it can sound regionally marked or archaic.
Easily confused with trews
Trousers is the general word for garments covering the legs, whereas trews specifically denotes close-fitting trousers, traditionally made in tartan for Highland dress.