Boyshorts

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A category of women's lingerie that features a contemporary design offering good coverage and comfort, often cut to resemble shorts and sitting low on the hips
2. A popular style of women's undergarments that provides thigh-length coverage with a snug fit and a modern aesthetic, blending elements of shorts and briefs
3. A type of women's underwear that fits tightly and extends down the upper thighs, styled to look similar to shorts

Etymology: Boyshorts are named for the garment they imitate: a man's or boy's short, loose-legged underpant, cut closer and shorter to suit women's underwear. The word is a plain compound of "boy" and "shorts", so the history is straightforward, and the "boy" refers to the boyish style of the cut rather than to any particular boy. The shape of the garment came first. Women's undergarments had long been defined by a fitted, often lacing or elastic-trimmed silhouette, and a briefer, looser-fitting pant borrowed the cut of traditional men's shorts. Naming it after that cut kept the connection to a familiar masculine model while signalling a relaxed, sporty fit.