long johns

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. long underwear, especially for winter use.

long johns

plural noun

1. informal.
   underpants with long legs

Word History and Origins

Origin of long johns¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

In one of Bird and Fortune's most famous recurring sketches, known as The Long Johns, one of the two actors - Bird or Fortune - would portray a senior figure from public life, being interviewed by the other.

From BBC

Lining the cases inside are rows of Long Johns, a traditional Hawaiian crispy doughnut with a custard filling; nine types of cookies; and slices of the shop’s bestselling strawberry cake topped with homemade guava sauce.

From Seattle Times

The walk: My husband and I found a sun break on a recent rainy Saturday to enjoy our Long Johns and coffee at nearby Oxbow Park, site of the giant Hats n’ Boots sculpture relocated here from a Western-style gas station in Georgetown.

From Seattle Times

All semester long, Johns Hopkins professor Sharfstein has been drilling the principles of the CDC manual into the class he teaches at Johns Hopkins.

From Washington Post

Our first encounter with him is as he’s smoked out of a cabin, his face cartoonishly black from an explosion, rolling around in his Long Johns.

From Washington Times