🩲 Women's underpants 👖 Short trousers

knickers

7.7

Short trousers that end above the knee, often worn by boys or for sports

noun
/ˈnɪkərz/

Archaic

: pantalones cortos

In the 1920s, boys would often play cricket in their knickers.

Examples

The children wore colorful knickers during their football match in the park.
But don't worry sunshine, I've got my club and knickers with me.
She decided to wear her knickers for the school sports day activities.

Synonyms

short pants

vsknickers

5 1.0

Trousers ending above the knee that people wear in warm weather or for sports

is the similar short trouser mainly used in the past for children or sports

knicker

vsknickers

Archaic

2 8.1

Loose knee-length trousers gathered at the knee and worn for sport or old-fashioned dress

is the general short trouser for children or sports rather than gathered style

trunks

vsknickers

1 1.8

Short pants that end near the knee and people wear for swimming or boxing

is the general above-knee trouser for children or sports rather than swim or boxing use

knickerbocker

vsknickers

Archaic

1 9.9

A type of short loose pants that gather at the knee

is the everyday child or sports short trouser not a named historical style

breeches

vsknickers

Archaic

1 9.9

Trousers that end above the knee and fasten below it

is the modern child or sports short trouser rather than formal historical garment

knee breeches

vsknickers

Archaic

1 9.9

Short trousers fastened just below the knee, worn by men in the 1600s and 1700s

is the general above-knee sports or children's trouser not a formal fastened garment

knee pants

vsknickers

Archaic

1 9.9

Short trousers that reach to the knee and are often worn by boys

is the general above-knee sports or children's trouser rather than specifically boys' historical wear

knickerbockers

vsknickers

Archaic

9.9

Short loose trousers gathered at the knee, often worn by boys or for sports

is the simple above-knee trouser used for play or sports instead of gathered fit

smallclothes

vsknickers

Archaic

9.9

Knee-length trousers that men wore with formal clothes in the 17th and 18th centuries

is the short above-knee trouser mainly for children or sports not adult formal wear

Jamaica shorts

vsknickers

2.8

Short pants that end at the knee and are worn for sport or hot weather

is the historical child or sports short rather than a regional named style

Idioms

to get your knickers in a twist

2 9.1

To become upset or worried about small things

to get one's knickers in a knot

1 9.8

To become upset or worried about something not important

to keep your knickers on

1 9.6

Stay calm and do not become angry or upset

Surface Forms

knickers plural

Etymology

Knickers originally meant short trousers called knickerbockers, a name from a story about a Dutch character; these were 'short trousers' worn for sport or by boys, so knickers can still mean knee-length pants in older or sporting styles.