knee pants

American  

plural noun

1. knee-length pants, especially those formerly worn by boys considered too young to wear full-length trousers (often used as a term symbolizing youth).

   I haven't felt this way since I was in knee pants.

---

Etymology

Origin of knee pants

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

knee pants

They were in knee pants during the Tet offensive.

From Time Magazine Archive

Willis advanced by leaps and bounds in college; and while yet in knee pants, so to speak, became a teacher and professor of law.

From Time Magazine Archive

Young Bill, fascinated by politics, roamed the State Capitol, watched the legislature at work, and hit the campaign trail with his father before he was out of knee pants.

From Time Magazine Archive

Also hard: a "prancesuit" made up of a melon crepe tunic and thigh-tight knee pants with blue crystal trim and blue shoes to match.

From Time Magazine Archive

At seven and nine years old—blurs of untucked shirts, grimy knee pants, and stockings bagging down around their ankles— they overtook the shop with their noise.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu