Knickerbockers (clothing)

Knickerbocker is the name for a calf-length pants with about wide legs that can be worn by men and women alike. Originally Knickerbocker were made ​​of leather and were intended to be hard-wearing clothing for hikers and climbers. Also keeper of football teams like intervened to 1920 back to Knickerbocker to protect against abrasions. Today, however, the material can be cotton and synthetic fiber.

Similar pants are the three-quarter trousers or breeches. The Knickerbockers still used, a universal mixture of pants and shorts, differs slightly by the higher recognized, laced conclusion near the knee, the Knickerbocker is on again.

History and Origin of the name

The name Knickerbocker based on the satirical A History of New York, which was published in 1809 by writer Washington Irving under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker. The main character is called Jansen Knickerbocker. Described are the first settlers of New York, which was then called New Amsterdam, who came from Holland and calf-length " Schlumperhosen " wore. Knickerbocker then became a nickname for the inhabitants of the city - which has expressed inter alia, in the name of the Knickerbocker Steamboat Company ( owner of inter alia the General Slocum ) or the basketball team New York Knickerbockers. As a 1895 knee pants that were similar to those in the "History", were used for biking and hiking, these pants called simply " Knickerbocker " to their historical model.

After Diedrich Knickerbocker Knickerbocker in Texas was the place, located at the intersection of Farm Roads 2335 and 584, named.

Reception in the literature

Known Knickerbocker carriers are the comic book heroes of the artist Hergé Tim and Nick Static by Manfred Schmidt. These pants were also the Knickerbocker band in Thomas Brezina children's books her name. The members of the gang also call themselves Knickerbocker. Manfred Hausmann is on the cover image of his travelogue "Little love for America " (1930 ) displayed in the knickers.