SOCK

A 'sock' is a knitted 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, 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.

Contents

Fabrication

History

Sock sizes

See also

Fabrication

Socks are usually knitted from cotton, wool, or polypropylene, and less commonly from nylon. 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 everything 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.

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''.

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)