If I rememer correctly, knickers is short for knickerbockers which are
short trousers gathered at the knee. They are still worn by a few (for
e.g.) golfers...

Cheers MC

katysails wrote:

Oz, you really are a masochist. Knickers??

What? You don't wear underwear in Great Britain? Doesn't it get a bit drafty in the wintertime?