sock

The modern English word sock is derived from the Old English word socc, meaning "light slipper". This comes from the Latin soccus, a term to describe a "light, low-heeled shoe" worn by Roman comic actors,{{cite web |url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Soccus.html |title=LacusCurtius – Roman Shoes – Soccus |publisher=Penelope.uchicago.edu |access-date=2010-03-19 |archive-date=2022-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930004936/https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA%2A/Soccus.html |url-status=live }} and deriving from the Ancient Greek word sykchos.{{cite web|title=Sock.|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=sock&searchmode=none|publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary]|access-date=August 28, 2012|archive-date=November 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105223013/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=sock&searchmode=none|url-status=live}}

File:Mawangdui Han Socks (10113150686).jpg tomb, Western Han, 2nd century BCE. Ancient Chinese socks are loose fitting and were tied with strings at the back.]]

File:BLW Pair of socks.jpg. Dating from 300 to 500, these were excavated from Oxyrhynchus on the Nile in Egypt. The split toes were designed for use with sandals. On display in the Victoria and Albert museum, reference 2085&A-1900.]]

File:Islamic sock.jpg

Socks have evolved over the centuries from the earliest models, which were made from animal skins gathered up and tied around the ankles in the manner of the later Greek and Roman carbatinae shoes. Because the manufacture of socks was relatively time-consuming in preindustrial times, they were long used only by the rich. The poor wore footwraps, simple cloths wrapped around the feet. These remained in use in Eastern European armies until the end of the 20th century.

According to the Greek poet Hesiod, in the 8th century BC, the Ancient Greeks wore socks called "piloi", which were made from matted animal hair.{{cite book |author= |title=Take Me Back |location=New York, New York |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780756640903/page/292 292] |date=2008 |isbn=978-0-7566-4090-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780756640903/page/292 }}[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0132%3Acard%3D536 Hesiod, Works and Days, 542]

The Romans also wrapped their feet with leather or woven fabrics. Around the 2nd century AD, the Romans started sewing the fabrics together making fitted socks called "udones". By the 5th century AD, socks called "puttees" were worn by holy people in Europe to symbolize purity.

During the Middle Ages, the length of trousers was extended and the sock became a tight, brightly colored cloth covering the lower part of the leg. Since socks did not have an elastic band, garters were placed over the top of the stockings to prevent them from falling down. When breeches became shorter, socks began to get longer (and more expensive). By 1000 AD, socks became a symbol of wealth among the nobility. From the 16th century onwards, an ornamental design on the ankle or side of a sock has been called a "clock".{{cite web |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clock%5B3%5D |title=clock3 |publisher=Merriam-webster.com |date=2007-04-25 |access-date=2010-03-05 |archive-date=2011-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116014230/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clock%5B3%5D |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.blacksocks.com/historyofsocksus.htm|title=historyofsocksus|publisher=www.blacksocks.com|access-date=2015-01-03|archive-date=2015-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409203445/http://www.blacksocks.com/historyofsocksus.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lonelysock.com/SockHistory.html|title=Sock History|publisher=archive of www.lonelysock.com|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929210600/https://www.lonelysock.com/SockHistory.html|archive-date=2016-09-29}}

The invention of a knitting machine in 1589 meant that socks could be knitted six times faster than by hand. Nonetheless, knitting machines and hand knitters worked side by side until 1800.

The next revolution in sock production was the introduction of nylon in 1938. Until then socks were commonly made from silk, cotton and wool. Nylon was the start of blending two or more yarns in the production of socks, a process that still continues today.

In recent history, scientific evidence has suggested that wearing socks to sleep can be beneficial in that it helps the individual to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.[https://www.cnet.com/health/sleep/wearing-socks-to-bed/ Struggling to Sleep? Try This Easy Trick and Unlock Better Rest Tonight]

Socks can be created from a wide variety of materials, such as cotton, wool, nylon, acrylic, polyester, olefins (such as polypropylene).{{Cite web |url=http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5544.html |title=Site | Ohioline |access-date=2002-09-17 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020917234421/http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5544.html |archive-date=2002-09-17 |url-status=dead }} To get an increased level of softness other materials that might be used during the process can be silk, bamboo, linen, cashmere, or mohair. Merino wool is a popular fabric choice that offers warmth and comfort to socks, and retains its shape better when blended with other materials.{{cite book|chapter=Running footwear: triathlon and duathlon|pages=223–256|first=Kirk|last=Herring|editor1-first=Matthew B.|editor1-last=Ward|editor2-first=E. Leslie|editor2-last=Knight|editor3-first=Paul R.|editor3-last=Langer|title=Athletic Footwear and Orthoses in Sports Medicine|publisher=Springer|year=2010|oclc=640142234}}{{rp|242}} The color variety of socks can be any color that the designers intend to make the sock upon its creation. Sometimes art is also put onto socks to improve their appearance. Colored socks may be a key part of the uniforms for sports, allowing players teams to be distinguished when only their legs are clearly visible.

Fort Payne, Alabama, is regarded as the "sock capital of the world" due to nearly half of socks manufactured in the early 21st century were made here. The Fort Payne sock industry employed about 7000 workers at its peak around the year 2000.{{Cite web|title=Fort Payne landmarks|date=15 March 2016|url=http://www.landmarksdekalbal.org/communities/FortPayne4.html|url-status=live|access-date=12 February 2022|archive-date=19 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419015315/http://www.landmarksdekalbal.org/communities/FortPayne4.html}} Fort Payne, while still one of the largest producers of socks, only produces only a quarter of all socks, and has lost that title to Datang, China.

The township-level district of Datang in the city of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China, has become known as Sock City. The town currently produces 8 billion pairs of socks each year,{{cite web|url=http://english.cri.cn/4026/2008/05/25/1721@361743.htm|title=Largest Sock Production Town in China|publisher=cri.cn|date=2008-05-25|access-date=8 September 2012|archive-date=2012-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719045608/http://english.cri.cn/4026/2008/05/25/1721@361743.htm|url-status=dead}} a third of the world's sock production, effectively creating two pairs of socks for every person on the planet in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/sep/09/sock-city-decline-china-economy|title=Sock City's decline may reveal an unraveling in China's economy|work=The Guardian|date=8 September 2012|access-date=8 September 2012|archive-date=5 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105233750/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/sep/09/sock-city-decline-china-economy|url-status=live}}

{{More citations needed section|date=May 2016}}

File:Yellow-green toe socks.jpg]]

Image:Flip-Flops socks.jpg socks]]

Socks are manufactured in a variety of lengths. No show, low cut, and ankle socks extend to the ankle or lower and are often worn casually or for athletic use. No show and low-cut socks are designed to create the look of bare feet when worn with shoes (sock not visible). Knee-high socks are sometimes associated with formal dress or as being part of a uniform, such as in sports (like football and baseball) or as part of a school's dress code or youth group's uniform. Over-the-knee socks or socks that extend higher (thigh-high socks) are sometimes referred to as female garments in the common era. They were widely worn by children, both boys and girls, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries; although, the popularity varied widely from country to country.{{cite web|title=End of an era: knee high socks face defeat|url=http://www.easier.com/117407-end-of-an-era-knee-high-socks-face-defeat.html|date=August 19, 2013|access-date=January 3, 2015|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302142943/https://www.easier.com/117407-end-of-an-era-knee-high-socks-face-defeat.html|url-status=live}} Knee-high or thigh-high socks are sometimes the object of sexual attraction and underwear fetishism.Boothby, Richard. Sex on the Couch: What Freud Still Has To Teach Us About Sex and Gender. Routledge. 2014. P. 225. Liner socks are socks which are worn underneath another sock with the intention being to prevent blisters.

Toe socks encases each toe individually the same way a finger is encased in a glove, while other socks have one compartment for the big toe and one for the rest, like a mitten; most notably what Japanese call tabi while other parts of the world simply call it split-toe socks. Both of these allow one to wear flip-flops with the socks.{{cite book|last=Marshall|first=John|title=Make Your Own Japanese Clothes: Patterns and Ideas for Modern Wear.|year=1988|publisher=Kodansha International, Ltd.|location=Tokyo|isbn=0-87011-865-X|pages=108–114|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ljOuuy0OO0UC&q=japanese+tabi&pg=PA108|access-date=2020-10-20|archive-date=2022-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130152259/https://books.google.com/books?id=ljOuuy0OO0UC&q=japanese+tabi&pg=PA108|url-status=live}}

Leg warmers, which are not typically socks, may be replaced with socks in cold climates and are similar to leggings due to the fact that they typically only keep legs warm in cold weather but not the entire foot.

A business sock or dress sock is a term for a dark-colored sock (typically black or navy blue) for formal or casual footwear. It is often loosely referred to as a work sock or a formal sock for formal occasions, for example, weddings, funerals, graduation ceremonies, prom, church, or work.

Crew socks are short and thick or thin everyday socks. Those socks are usually ribbed at the top of the ankles.{{cite web|title=crew sock|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crew+sock|website=Dictionary.com|publisher=Dictionary.com, LLC|access-date=4 September 2015|archive-date=5 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705042244/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crew+sock|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crew%20sock |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125005032/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crew%20sock |archivedate=2016-01-25 |website=www.merriam-webster.com|title=Crew Sock | Definition of Crew sock by Merriam-Webster }} They can be used in a way to warm legs if pulled all the way up.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/crew+sock |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225113914/http://www.thefreedictionary.com/crew+sock |archivedate=2015-12-25 |website=www.thefreedictionary.com|title=Crew sock }}{{Clarify|date=September 2015}} The first familiar practice of crew socks{{Clarify|date=September 2015}} was in 1948.{{Citation needed|date=September 2015}} Crew socks are usually unisex.{{cite book|title=Oxford Picture Dictionary |edition=second |first1=Jayme Adelson |last1=Goldstein |first2=Norma |last2=Shapiro |date=6 March 2008 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-436976-3}}

A low cut sock is a kind of sock that describe in a way to be cut below the ankle. Low cut socks are formed to cover the contours of a person's feet. Although low cut socks are unisex, women and girls commonly use them. Low cut socks are normally worn with shoes such as boat shoes, Oxfords, moccasins and loafers.{{Citation needed|date=February 2015}}

The Ancient Egyptian style of sock is a blend between modern Western socks and Japanese tabi, both of which it predates. Like tabi, Egyptian socks have one compartment for the big toe and another for the rest, permitting their use with sandals. Like Western socks, they fit snugly to the foot and do not use fasteners like tabi.

{{See also|Shoe size}}

File:Kneehighschooluniformsocks-tokyoarea-jan182020.jpg or for fashion]]

Although generally holding to a pattern of being divided into sizes of small-medium-large, etc., what range of shoe sizes those sock sizes correspond to carries in different markets.{{cite web|title=Sizing|url=http://www.bridgedale.com/sock-sizing|website=Sock Info|publisher=Bridgedale|access-date=28 March 2018|archive-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329054209/http://www.bridgedale.com/sock-sizing|url-status=live}} Some size standards are coordinated by standard-setting bodies but others have arisen from custom.{{cite web|title=Foot Size Chart|url=https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/footsize.html|website=Yarn Standards|publisher=Craft Yarn Council|access-date=28 March 2018|archive-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329121033/https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/footsize.html|url-status=live}} Sock lengths vary, from ankle-high to thigh level.{{cite web|url=http://www.p2d.co.uk/acatalog/sock_size_chart.html|title=sock_size_chart|publisher=.co.uk/acatalog|access-date=2015-01-03|archive-date=2015-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103205408/http://www.p2d.co.uk/acatalog/sock_size_chart.html|url-status=live}}

{{see also|Baseball uniform#Stockings and pants|Rugby socks}}

Most sports require some sort of sock, usually a knee length or mid-calf sock to protect one's legs from being scraped while participating in sport activities. In basketball, tube socks are worn, and in lacrosse, mid-calf socks are required.{{citation needed|date=September 2010}} In football, knee socks are used. They are mostly to stop grass burns.{{Cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-08-29/sports/29941646_1_pants-socks-cuffs |title=Baseball and socks appeal |access-date=2015-01-03 |archive-date=2012-09-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911102521/http://articles.philly.com/2011-08-29/sports/29941646_1_pants-socks-cuffs |url-status=dead }}

The layer of leather or other material covering the insole of a shoe is also referred to as a sock. When only part of the insole is covered, leaving the forepart visible, this is known as a half-sock.{{cite web |url=http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6044497.html |title=Half sock: Patent 6044497 |publisher=Freepatentsonline.com |date=1998-08-17 |access-date=2010-03-05 |archive-date=2011-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614050947/http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6044497.html |url-status=live }}

File:FootClothFromFinnishDefenceForces.JPG until the 1990s]]

Footwraps, pieces of cloth that are worn wrapped around the feet, were worn with boots before socks became widely available. They remained in use by armies in Eastern Europe until the beginning of the 21st century.{{cite news|url=http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20130114/178772451/Russian_Army_Footwraps_Are_Out_Socks_Are_In.html|title=Russian Army: Footwraps are Out, Socks are in|date=January 14, 2013|access-date=January 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116232931/http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20130114/178772451/Russian_Army_Footwraps_Are_Out_Socks_Are_In.html|archive-date=16 January 2013|url-status=dead|publisher=RIA Novosti}}

For use in cold environments, thermal socks are thicker. They are commonly worn for skiing, skating, and other winter sports. They provide not only insulation, but also greater padding due to their thickness.

Diabetic socks are a kind of thermal sock made from an acrylic, cotton, nylon, and elastic. These are made to improve comfort while at the same time keeping feet cool and dry. However, there is no solid evidence that they are helpful.{{Cite web |url=https://healthpsych.psy.vanderbilt.edu/Diabetic%20Socks.htm |title=Are Diabetic Socks Better Than Generic Socks? |access-date=2018-08-27 |archive-date=2017-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229202951/http://healthpsych.psy.vanderbilt.edu/diabetic%20Socks.htm |url-status=dead }}

{{Globalize|section|date=July 2014}}

A sock is also used as a holiday item during Christmas. Children hang a large ceremonial sock called a Christmas stocking by a nail or hook on Christmas Eve, and then their parents fill it with small presents while the recipients are asleep. According to tradition, Santa Claus brings these presents to well-behaved children, while naughty kids instead receive coal.{{cite book|last=Bowler|first=Gerry|title=The World Encyclopedia of Christmas|year=2000|publisher=McClelland & Stewart|location=Toronto|isbn=0-7710-1531-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/worldencyclopedi00gerr/page/156 156]|url=https://archive.org/details/worldencyclopedi00gerr/page/156}}

Among Muslims, socks have initiated a discussion about the intricacies of wudhu, the formal washing carried out before prayer. Some Muslim clerics, mindful of possible hardship among Muslims in inhospitable circumstances, have issued Muslim edicts permitting practicing Muslims to wipe water over their sock or sprinkle their sock.{{cite book|title=Personal Security: A Guide for International Travelers |page=25 |first=Tanya |last=Spencer |year=2013}} This would allow prayer where there are no seating facilities, or if there is a queue. This is the stated opinion especially of Maliki Sunnis.Al-Muwatta Of Iman Malik Ibn Ana – Page 14, 2013 Anas

• American Civil War sock campaign
• Beoseon (traditional Korean socks)
• Hospital socks
• Leg warmer
• Leggings
• Loose sock
• Missing sock
• Puttee
• Sock puppet
• Socks and sandals
• Smelly socks
• Stocking
• Tabi
• Tights

{{reflist}}

{{sister project links|socks}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.sockmuseum.com/historical-socks |title=Sockmuseum, Historical socks |website=Sock Museum}}

{{hosiery}}

{{Clothing}}

{{Footwear}}

{{Men's undergarments}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Footwear accessories

Category:Hosiery

Category:History of clothing