greys

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Grey trousers and/or jackets worn by prisoners on relatively formal occasions.

Register: slang

Examples

There was a clatter at the back of the gallery, a sharp word from a warder, and the men marched in in their prison greys, jackets too large, trousers too small.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “greys” mean?

Grey trousers and/or jackets worn by prisoners on relatively formal occasions.

Is “greys” formal or informal?

greys is generally slang.