"斜紋棉布",15世紀中期, Geayne,縮寫自 Gene fustian,源自法語 jean fustian,指的是熱那亞的一種斜紋棉布,來自古法語 Jannes "熱那亞",源自拉丁語 Genua(參見 Genoa)。與15世紀在英格蘭流通的一種小銀幣 jane 相比。複數形式 jeans 在19世紀中期成爲標準。在指代“牛仔褲”時,最早可追溯到1908年,被認爲是1959年以來青少年的特徵。最初並非藍色。
After sheep could be protected from the wolves, the people fared better in the matter of clothing. Flannel and linsey were woven for the wear of women and children, while jeans was woven for the men. For want of other dye-stuffs, the wool for the jeans was almost invariably colored with the bark or young shoots of the walnut; hence the inevitable "butternut" worn so extensively in the West for many years. ["History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois," 1879]