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Insight Horizon Media

What does knickers mean in Australia?

Author

Daniel Rodriguez

Published Feb 23, 2026

What does knickers mean in Australia?

In British English, and in places such as the UK, Ireland, South Africa, India, and occasionally in other Commonwealth nations such as Australia and New Zealand, panties are often referred to as knickers. The term knickers is not generally used in the US and Canada, where the term “panties” is usually favored.

What do Australians call their pants?

dacks (daks) – trousers, most likely derived from the London clothier Daks (founded in 1894). Trackie dacks are tracksuit trousers, and underdacks are underpants or knickers.

What are golf knickers called?

Knickerbockers
Knickerbockers or knickers are a form of men’s or boys’ baggy-kneed breeches, particularly popular in the early 20th-century United States. Golfers’ plus twos and plus fours are similar.

What are some Australian slang words?

100 Australian Slang Words & Phrases

Aussie slang word/phraseMeaning
BillyTeapot (in the outback on the fire)
BloodyVery
Bloody oathYes! Or “That’s very true”
BludgerSomeone who’s lazy

What is knickers in British slang?

Definition of knickers 1 : loose-fitting short pants gathered at the knee. 2 chiefly British : underpants.

What do they call socks in Australia?

People Slang

PEOPLE
Ankle biter :small child
Figjam :Someone who has a high opinion of themselves
Fisho :fishmonger
Frog in a sock : (as cross as a)sound angry

Why are knickers called plus fours?

They were baggy garments that fastened tight around the knee area and were popular among some soldiers during the First World War. Some bright spark had the idea of making these pants a little longer – adding 4 inches to their length, hence the name.

What is the origin of the word knickers?

“Knickers” derives from “knickerbockers,” or “loose-fitting short pants gathered at the knee.” Because the city’s early Dutch settlers wore those pants, “New Yorkers” became known as “Knickerbockers.” And The Knickerbockers, of course – more commonly “The Knicks” – is the name of New York’s NBA team.

What is sparrow’s fart?

Noun. sparrow-fart (uncountable) (plural attested only as sparrowfarts ) (uncountable, UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) A time very early in the day; dawn. quotations ▼ (countable) A person or thing of no consequence.

What are knickers in us?

In the US, the primary, if outdated, meaning of knickers is “short pants.” These old fashioned trousers, also known as knickerbockers or “breeches,” were loose and knee-length, and worn by men and boys.