Information about Sock

A sock is a knitted hosiery garment for enclosing the human foot. Socks are designed to:

• ease chafing between the foot and footwear,
• keep the feet warm
• absorb moisture
• prevent verrucas

Sock is also the term given to the layer of leather or other material covering the insole of a shoe. When only part of the insole is covered, leaving the forepart visible, this is known as a half-sock.

Socks are designed for wear with footwear that covers the entire foot (or feet), such as athletic shoes, boots, or dress shoes. They are sometimes worn with open-toed shoes, such as sandals. Socks are also frequently worn without shoes or slippers, typically indoors.

The average foot has 250,000 sweat glands, and the average pair gives off about half a pint (almost 250 mL) of perspiration per day. Socks help to absorb this sweat and draw it to areas where air can wick the perspiration away. In cold environments, socks help to remove the moisture given off by one's feet, decreasing the risk of frostbite.

Fabrication

Socks are usually knitted from cotton, wool, or polypropylene, and less commonly from nylon or silk. They come in many colors, though are typically dark for formal attire and white for athletic or casual attire. 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.

Sock lengths vary, from ankle-high to thigh level and much in between. Other styles of socks include crew socks, mid-calf, and bare socks. A toe sock (also known as a digital sock) encases each toe individually the same way a finger is encased in a glove. Leg warmers, which are not typically socks, are commonly replaced with socks in northern regions of Scandanavia due to the cold climate.

History

The word sock comes from the Latin word soccus, which was a type of low-heeled loose-fitting shoe or slipper, used by the Greeks and also by Roman comedians. It then passed through Old English socc and Middle English socke. The Latin word may have derived from the ancient Greek sukkhos which was a Phrygian shoe. This word was probably derived from an Asian language. Some of the Greeks wore their soccuses on their feet, then put their sandals on top on them, and like modern day people they took their sandals off and walked around in their houses in their soccuses.^[1]

Sock sizes

In the UK, a sock's size is the similar to that of a person's foot; for example, a foot that has a shoe size of 9 would require a sock sized 8-10.

In some parts of the world socks are sized differently than shoes. The chart below gives size equivalences, although there is no indication as to which of the numerous sizing systems it represents:

Sock size	Men's shoe size	Women's shoe size
9-11	3-1/2 to 8-1/2	4 to 10
10-13	6-1/2 to 12	8-1/2 to 12-1/2

Other less common sock sizes are 10-15, 13-15, and 13-16.

See also

• Stocking
• Sock puppet
• Tabi (traditional Japanese socks)

References

Hosiery   •  • [ e]
	Lower leg: Bobby socks · Bootee · Knee highs · Leg warmers · Loose socks · Socks · Tabi · Toe socks Full leg: Fully fashioned stockings · Hold-ups · Leggings · Legskin · Pantyhose · Stocking · Tights Historical: Boothose · Hose Brands: Aristoc · Gerbe · Hanes · Jockey International · L’eggs · Levante · No nonsense · Victoria's Secret · Wolford