Knickerbocker

[ nik-er-bok-er ]
/ ˈnɪk ərˌbɒk ər /

noun

a descendant of the Dutch settlers of New York.
any New Yorker.

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Origin of Knickerbocker

1800–10, Americanism; generalized from Diedrich Knickerbocker, fictitious author of Washington Irving's History of New York

Definition for knickerbockers (2 of 2)

knickers
[ nik-erz ]
/ ˈnɪk ərz /

noun (used with a plural verb)

Also knick·er·bock·ers [nik-er-bok-erz] /ˈnɪk ərˌbɒk ərz/. loose-fitting short trousers gathered in at the knees.
Chiefly British.
  1. a bloomerslike undergarment worn by women.
  2. panties.
British Informal. a woman's or girl's short-legged underpants.

Origin of knickers

1880–85; shortened form of knickerbockers, plural of knickerbocker, special use of Knickerbocker
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for knickerbockers

British Dictionary definitions for knickerbockers (1 of 3)

knickerbockers
/ (ˈnɪkəˌbɒkəz) /

pl n

baggy breeches fastened with a band at the knee or above the ankleAlso called (US): knickers

Word Origin for knickerbockers

C19: regarded as the traditional dress of the Dutch settlers in America; see Knickerbocker

British Dictionary definitions for knickerbockers (2 of 3)

Knickerbocker
/ (ˈnɪkəˌbɒkə) /

noun US

a descendant of the original Dutch settlers of New York
an inhabitant of New York

Word Origin for Knickerbocker

C19: named after Diedrich Knickerbocker, fictitious Dutchman alleged to be the author of Washington Irving's History of New York (1809)

British Dictionary definitions for knickerbockers (3 of 3)

knickers
/ (ˈnɪkəz) /

pl n

an undergarment for women covering the lower trunk and sometimes the thighs and having separate legs or leg-holes
a US variant of knickerbockers
get one's knickers in a twist slang to become agitated, flustered, or upset

Word Origin for knickers

C19: contraction of knickerbockers
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012