knickerbocker
noun
knick·er·bock·er
ˈni-kər-ˌbä-kər 
ˈni-kə-
1
2
capitalized
: a descendant of the early Dutch settlers of New York
broadly
: a native or resident of the city or state of New York
—used as a nickname
Examples of knickerbocker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Also known as the panic of 1907, the knickerbocker crisis is now largely forgotten, but the economic nightmare was burned into the memories of those who lived around the turn of the 20th century.
—
Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 17 Mar. 2024
Wearing knickerbockers tucked into her knee-high socks, Kuhn raised an arm to signal her presence, stepped into the ice chute and waited for her cue.
—Noele Illien, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2020
Suits included boyish shorts or knickerbockers more often than a trouser.
—Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2020
They were originally modeled after classic knickerbockers: broad and billowy from the waist to the calf, and then skin tight to the ankle.
—Pete Forester, Esquire, 7 Sep. 2017
There was that about him which spoke of knickerbockers and romping childhood laid aside but yesterday.
—Rosa Inocencio Smith, The Atlantic, 5 June 2017
This image, of a fair-haired child dressed as a page boy, in cape and knickerbockers, adorns the cover of the American edition of Sebald’s novel.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 31 May 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 17 Mar. 2024
Wearing knickerbockers tucked into her knee-high socks, Kuhn raised an arm to signal her presence, stepped into the ice chute and waited for her cue.
—Noele Illien, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2020
Suits included boyish shorts or knickerbockers more often than a trouser.
—Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2020
They were originally modeled after classic knickerbockers: broad and billowy from the waist to the calf, and then skin tight to the ankle.
—Pete Forester, Esquire, 7 Sep. 2017
There was that about him which spoke of knickerbockers and romping childhood laid aside but yesterday.
—Rosa Inocencio Smith, The Atlantic, 5 June 2017
This image, of a fair-haired child dressed as a page boy, in cape and knickerbockers, adorns the cover of the American edition of Sebald’s novel.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 31 May 2017
Cite this Entry
“Knickerbocker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knickerbocker. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share