Underpants are underwear worn on the lower body generally extending no higher than the navel.[ Underpants. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved 2 August 2012..]
In British English they are often called simply pants.
Types of underpants
Unisex
Long underpants
Long underpants are the bottom half of a style of two-piece underwear called long underwear, long johns, or thermal underwear, that has long legs and long sleeves, and is normally worn during cold weather; also commonly worn by people under their clothes in cold countries. The male version of a long underwear bottom may or may not have a front fly.
Briefs
Classic briefs have an elasticated waistband at or near the wearer's waist, and leg bands that end at or near the
groin. Many male briefs feature a fly. They also come in ultra-absorbent varieties.
Bikini briefs
Bikini briefs are a variation on classic briefs that have less coverage; though typically full coverage of the
Buttocks. Conventionally, the men’s version has no fly.
Thong
Thongs are like bikini briefs, except the backside is very narrow and goes between the buttocks.
Open drawers
Open drawers are undergarments where the backs and front of the legs are not joined together.
Diapers
Diapers (North America) or nappies (Britain, Ireland, and Australia) are a type of underwear worn by young children and those suffering from incontinence. Unlike other briefs, diapers allow the wearer to urinate or defecate without soiling their surroundings. These can be either reusable or disposable.
Male
Boxer shorts
Boxer shorts, boxers, or trunks (Britain),
[boxer shorts.Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved 29 August 2012 from CollinsDictionary.com website:http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/boxer-shorts.] have an elasticated waistband that is at or near the wearer's waist, while the leg sections are fairly loose and extend to the mid-thigh. There is usually a fly, either with or without
.
Midway briefs
Midway briefs are similar in style to boxer briefs, but are longer in the leg, at the longest being down to the knees.
Boxer briefs
Boxer briefs are similar in style to boxer shorts, but are form-fitting like classic
briefs. Like men’s briefs, they often utilize a fly.
Sometimes boxer briefs are called trunks (Britain),[trunks. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved 29 August 2012 from CollinsDictionary.com website:http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/trunks] see next section.
Trunk briefs
Trunk briefs, also known as simply trunks, are shorter than boxer briefs but still have leg sections, unlike briefs.
[ "High Anxiety in the Underwear Department". The Wall Street Journal. New York. May 14, 2009.]
Female
Panties
"Panties" is a general term for female underpants. There are a number of different styles including bikinis, boyshorts, briefs, cheekies,
g-string, hipsters, and thongs. The UK English equivalent is "knickers".
Image gallery
File:LongJohns01.JPG|A male wearing long underwear
File:Full Cut Fruit of the Looms Men%27s Classic Briefs in white.jpg|Male briefs
File:Bikini brief.jpg|Male bikini briefs
File:A-man-in-black-thongs.JPG|Male thong
File:BoxerShorts-20070901.jpg|Boxer shorts
File:Tier one protection MOD 45154146.jpg|Midway briefs
File:Boxer para hombre, calzoncillo.jpg|Boxer briefs
File:Retroshorts.jpg|Trunk briefs
File:Panties styles - en.svg|Several styles of women's underpants (thong and G-string: back view)
History
See also
