Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun plural Long bloomers formerly worn as underwear by women and girls.
  • noun plural Chiefly British Panties.
  • noun plural Full breeches gathered and banded just below the knee.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • A contraction of knickerbockers. Also used adjectively, in the form knicker: as, a knicker suit.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun plural The name for a style of loose-fitting short trousers, gathered in and ending at the knees; smallclothes; called also knickerbockers.
  • noun plural British Underpants, especially of women; panties.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun colloquial, rare Knickerbockers.
  • noun UK, New Zealand Women's underpants.
  • interjection A mild exclamation of annoyance.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun trousers ending above the knee
  • noun underpants worn by women

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Short for knickerbockers.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Short for knickerbockers.

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Examples

  • Happy to see the tradition of Hannah Spearrit in her knickers is being continued. #primeval The Egyptian stuff ... wince.

    Tweets I have known 2009

  • PS I had a look for a picture of aman in knickers by way of humour. .yeeeesh, Bough was clearly not alone in his peculiar predelictions.

    Come Backs More Absurd Newmania 2008

  • I agree that anyone who used the term underpants to describe french knickers is not portraying your “voice” properly to the average american.

    I say pyjama… 2008

  • Though I don't quote lyrics in this chapter, the song they dance to in their knickers is called Sway and it's the Julie London version.

    Insomnia is Good for Something amberfocus 2008

  • In Britan (& Ireland) knickers is used as a term for everyday underwear (i.e. cotton etc) while French Knickers denotes a totally unique style, shape and allusion.

    I say pyjama… 2008

  • Would it be fair to say she is a pig in knickers?? on December 21, 2007 at 3: 24 pm | Reply Stocking

    Platform Two for Metro City « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2007

  • I think that buying coloured knickers is perhaps a metaphor for my larger state of mind at the moment.

    The One With The Big Changes Afoot kisobel 2007

  • For his final event, Lodwick competed in knickers, a Norwegian ski club sweater and a necktie.

    USATODAY.com - Athlete of the Week Landis breaks from cycling pack 2006

  • On these journeys, it was his custom to dress in knickers or shorts and to go into remote villages and other places not usually touched by people on a grand tour.

    How Goes The War? 1942

  • On being paparazzied: "I don't want to fall over; I just want to get to my car, because if I fall over, someone's going to shove a camera lens up my skirt and get a picture of my knickers, which is kind of not cool."

    Victoria Beckham: I'm Not 'One Of These People Who Goes Out Without Any Knickers On' Hilary Moss 2011

Comments

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  • I love British words.

    February 8, 2007

  • As in "Don't get your knickers in a twist".

    April 1, 2007

  • Undies!

    October 9, 2008