From Middle French houseau, housel, hosel, from Old French huesel, housel (“boot, leggings”), diminutive of huese, hose (“boot, leggings”), from Frankish *husa, *hosa (“boot, leggings”), from Proto-Germanic *husǭ, *hausaz (“covering, shell, trousers”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewH- (“cover”). Cognate with Old High German hosa (German Hose, “pants”), Old English hose (“hose, pod, husk”), Old Norse hosa (“trousers, stocking”), Old Norse hauss (“skull”). More at hose, hosen.