Feet with stockings, but without shoes.
1829. Off he stumped upstairs in his stocking feet.—Mass. Spy, Feb. 18.
1839. He sallied forth in his stocking-feet, with a candle, bidding me keep quiet till he returned.—R. M. Bird, ‘Robin Day,’ i. 153 (Phila.).
a. 1847. Time trod softly, noiselessly, in his stocking feet, as if fearful lest he should awake the infant, Care.—Dow, Jun., ‘Patent Sermons,’ i. 71.
1857. Our guide soon came back—he had been prowling round in his stocking feet.—Knick. Mag., l. 500 (Nov.).
1860. We slipped down-stairs in our stockinged feet, got the front-door open without awakening the porter, shut it carefully after us, and put on our boots outside.—Atlantic Monthly, vi. 319/1 (Sept.).
1901. In his stocking feet, he [Andrews] flung himself over the fence, and through the guard line, repeatedly fired at but unhurt.—W. Pittenger, ‘The Great Locomotive Chase,’ p. 251.
1902. [He] sat smoking in his favorite chair near the banisters, on top of which he now and then placed his stockinged feet.—W. N. Harben, ‘Abner Daniel,’ p. 145.
*** The phrase is used in the N. of England, and in Scotland, and probably reached America by means of Scottish immigration. [See Notes and Queries, 11 S. iii. 196, 197.]
