Does/did the word "dungarees" refer to just blue jeans, or was it more general?

[raccoon]

Also, did people ever use the word in the South? I only encountered it in books.

I don't think people use the word any more.

[IndianaJones]

1. my grandfather always called jeans dungarees. Lived in VA his entire life. nt.

[sniffa]

2. my mom uses that word

for bLue jeans onLy. she aLso caLLs soda, tonic.

new engLand foLk.

[RebelOne]

3. I used it when I was a kid in Miami.

[Aristus]

4. I think any casual or work pants made from canvas were called dungarees.

Whenever I hear the word, I think of the Hardy Boys mysteries, and those awful old-fashioned blue sneakers with the white crepe soles.

[DarkTirade]

5. I think it's just an old word that hasn't really survived.

Probably because people are generally lazy, and it's easier to say 'jeans' than 'dungarees'.

[Connonym]

6. according to Wiki

"The term "dungaree" was associated with a coarse undyed calico fabric that was produced and sold in a region near Dongari Killa (also called Fort George) in Bombay (now Mumbai) in India. The cloth was cheap and often poorly woven. As such, it was used by the poorer classes for clothing and by various navies as a sail cloth. Sailors often re-used old sails to make clothes. In time, the name of the cloth came to also mean an item of clothing made out of it."

it can also be used in reference to bib overalls or the jumpsuit thingies that mechanics wear