Knickers is a clothing item, typically referring to women's underpants. Despite its common usage, the spelling of the word can be tricky. The "k" is silent, and the "kn" is pronounced as a single consonant, which is shown in IPA transcription as /n/, followed by the short "i" sound as /ɪ/. The rest of the word is pronounced as you might expect, with the long "e" sound as /i/ and the final "s" pronounced as /z/. Overall, the IPA transcription of knickers is /ˈnɪkərz/.
Knickers, also known as knickerbockers, refers to a type of loose-fitting trousers that extend just below the knee or sometimes down to the ankle. The term "knickers" commonly denotes a form of clothing worn by both men and women. Historically, knickers were popularized during the 19th century as a fashionable choice for outdoor activities, particularly for men engaged in sports such as golf, cycling, or hiking.
The design of knickers typically involves a wide and roomy cut, allowing for ease of movement. They are often fastened around the waistline with buttons or a belt, with cuffs or elasticized bands at the bottom of each leg. Knickers were originally tailored from heavy fabrics such as tweed or wool, but nowadays, they can be found in a variety of fabrics, including cotton or synthetic blends, suitable for different purposes and seasons.
In contemporary usage, the term "knickers" has somewhat shifted and is often used interchangeably with the word "underpants" or "panties" in British English. In this context, it primarily refers to women's underwear, specifically a close-fitting undergarment covering the lower torso and buttocks, usually designed with an elastic waistband. Such underpants are typically worn beneath outer garments for comfort and modesty.
Therefore, the term "knickers" can refer to either loose-fitting knee-length or ankle-length trousers traditionally worn for outdoor activities, or it can describe close-fitting underpants worn by women for everyday use. The specific meaning is context-dependent and may vary based on the geographical location or cultural norms.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "knickers" originated from the Middle English word "knicker" or "knyker", which referred to a type of short, loose-fitting trousers worn by men in the 15th century. The term then evolved to "knickerbockers" in the 19th century, which specifically referred to knee-length trousers that were commonly worn by boys or men for athletic activities or as part of casual attire. The term "knickers" eventually emerged in the early 20th century as a colloquial abbreviation of "knickerbockers" and became synonymous with women's undergarments, particularly loose-fitting, knee-length underpants.