Knickerbocker

[nik-er-bok-er] /ˈnɪk ərˌbɒk ər/
noun
1.
a descendant of the Dutch settlers of New York.
2.
any New Yorker.
Origin
1800-10, Americanism; generalized from Diedrich Knickerbocker, fictitious author of Washington Irving's History of New York

knickers

[nik-erz] /ˈnɪk ərz/
noun, (used with a plural verb)
1.
Also, knickerbockers
[nik-er-bok-erz] /ˈnɪk ərˌbɒk ərz/ (Show IPA). loose-fitting short trousers gathered in at the knees.
2.
Chiefly British.
  1. a bloomerslike undergarment worn by women.
  2. panties.
3.
British Informal. a woman's or girl's short-legged underpants.
Idioms
4.
to get one's knickers in a twist, British Slang. to get flustered or agitated:
Don't get your knickers in a twist every time the telephone rings.
Origin
1880-85; shortened form of knickerbockers, plural of knickerbocker, special use of Knickerbocker
Examples from the web for knickerbockers
  • She smoked cigarettes in public and wore knickerbockers on the golf course when both were considered unladylike.
  • Nellie made both older boys wear knickerbockers, double-breasted jackets, and high collars.
British Dictionary definitions for knickerbockers

knickerbockers

/ˈnɪkəˌbɒkəz/
plural noun
1.
baggy breeches fastened with a band at the knee or above the ankle Also called (US) knickers
Word Origin
C19: regarded as the traditional dress of the Dutch settlers in America; see Knickerbocker

Knickerbocker

/ˈnɪkəˌbɒkə/
noun (US)
1.
a descendant of the original Dutch settlers of New York
2.
an inhabitant of New York
Word Origin
C19: named after Diedrich Knickerbocker, fictitious Dutchman alleged to be the author of Washington Irving's History of New York (1809)

knickers

/ˈnɪkəz/
plural noun
1.
an undergarment for women covering the lower trunk and sometimes the thighs and having separate legs or leg-holes
2.
a US variant of knickerbockers
3.
(slang) get one's knickers in a twist, to become agitated, flustered, or upset
Word Origin
C19: contraction of knickerbockers
Word Origin and History for knickerbockers

Knickerbocker

"descendant of Dutch settlers of New York," 1831, from Diedrich Knickerbocker, the name under which Washington Irving published his popular "History of New York" (1809). The pen-name was borrowed from Irving's friend Herman Knickerbocker, and literally means "toy marble-baker."

knickers

n.

"short, loose-fitting undergarment," now usually for women but not originally so, 1866, shortening of knickerbockers (1859), said to be so called for their resemblance to the trousers of old-time Dutchmen in Cruikshank's illustrations for Washington Irving's "History of New York" (see knickerbocker).

Slang definitions & phrases for knickerbockers

knickers

Related Terms

have someone by the short hairs