knickers

[ nik-erz ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. Also knick·er·bock·ers [] 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.

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. get one's knickers in a twist slang.
   to become agitated, flustered, or upset

Word History and Origins

Origin of knickers¹

1880–85; shortened form of knickerbockers, plural of knickerbocker, special use of Knickerbocker

Word History and Origins

Origin of knickers¹

C19: contraction of knickerbockers

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

Example Sentences

“Obviously if I get in with no knickers, on my head be it.”

From BBC

Guess, a remix of the Brat original, dropped on Thursday night and showed Billie smashing into a party on a bulldozer surrounded by thousands of bras and knickers.

From BBC

Costs for period knickers range from £8 to £46 for a pack of three online.

From BBC

I also paused at a display of Catnip Kickers, which I misread as Catnip Knickers and thus spent way too much time wondering exactly how you would put them on the cat, and what purpose they would serve.

From Seattle Times

All the duress and stress, but Alex and I, we just wanted to make something that was naughtier, more honest, edgier, sexier, you know, all of the superlatives, and now all these years later to come to fruition to be nominated for two Emmys … yeah, I literally wet my knickers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• shorts
• slacks
• trousers
• underpants