Also nicker-. [The name of the pretended author of Washington Irving’s History of New York.]
I. (with capital initial). 1. A descendant of the original Dutch settlers of the New Netherlands in America, hence, a New Yorker.
[1809. W. Irving (title), History of New York…. By Diedrich Knickerbocker.] Ibid. (1848), Author’s Apol. p. xiii. When I find New-Yorkers of Dutch descent priding themselves upon being ‘genuine Knickerbockers’ [etc.].
1876. S. Osgood, in D. J. Hill, Bryant (1879), 158. We can all join,… whether native or foreign-born, Knickerbockers, or New-Englanders.
2. attrib. or as adj. Of or pertaining to the Knickerbockers of New York.
1856. Longf., in Life (1891), II. 303. I am very glad that the dreadful Knickerbocker custom of calling on everybody does not prevail here.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 Jan., 10/1. A descendant of one of the Knickerbocker families.
II. 3. (with small initial). pl. Loose-fitting breeches, gathered in at the knee, and worn by boys, sportsmen, and others who require a freer use of their limbs. The term has been loosely extended to the whole costume worn with these, = knickerbocker suit. (Rarely in sing.).
The name is said to have been given to them because of their resemblance to the knee-breeches of the Dutchmen in Cruikshank’s illustrations to W. Irving’s History of New York.
1859. Ld. Elcho, in Times, 23 May, 12/3. The suggestion I have to make is, that the volunteers should not wear trousers…. But I would recommend as a substitute what are commonly known as ‘nickerbockers,’ i.e., long loose breeches which are generally worn without braces, and buckled or buttoned round the waist and knee.
1859. Kingsley, in Life (1878), II. 89–90. They [the puffed trunk-hose] gradually in the country, where they were ill made, became slops, i. e., knickerbockers.
1860. Thackeray, Round. Pap., De Juventute, 71. Children in short frocks and knickerbockers.
1862. Mrs. H. Freshfield, Tour Grisons, i. 3. Mountain solitudes remain undisturbed by visions of crinoline and knickerbockers!
1883. E. Pennell-Elmhirst, Cream Leicestersh., 202. In cases not few the knickerbocker has of late been more familiar than the buckskin.
attrib. 1861. Times, 12 July, 5/6. One knickerbocker company, wearing the same uniform as the London Scottish.
1864. Miss Yonge, Trial, II. 236. A little knickerbocker boy, with floating rich dark ringlets.
1894. Pall Mall Gaz., 15 June, 4/2. The assumption that the knickerbocker ladies [cyclists] were doing something confessedly unseemly.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 14 Jan., 2/1. A talent … quite ignored in knickerbocker days.
Hence Knickerbockered a., wearing knickerbockers.
1869. Echo, 28 Sept. The tall, knickerbockered Q.C. from Dublin.
1897. Outing (U.S.), XXX. 462/2. A knickerbockered, travel-stained, dusty-shoed guest.
