Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also nicks) sports shorts.

1894		Coventry Eve. Teleg. 1 Sept. 3/5: Tamoworth Athletic; coklours, blue shirts, red and white striped knicks.
1922		Tamowrth Herald 19 Aug. 3/7: [advert] Keenest prices for Jerseys and Knicks for Football Clubs.
1935		Tamworth Herald 27 Apr. 4/6: A presentation of a watch is to be made to the referee [...] also a blazer and knicks.
1993		R. Doyle Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha 135: His jersey was outside his nicks.
2001		G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and Sl. 🌐 Knicks (n) sports shorts.

2. knickerbockers.

1895		‘’Arry and the [...] Lady Cyclists’ in Punch 15 June 285/2: One young piece in grey knicks and cream cloth, and a sort of soft tile called a toke.
1895		Coburg Leader (Vic.) 22 June 1/5: Eddie says he is too big for knicks now.
1904		Sun. Times (Perth) 24 Jan. 11/3: On that part of the kid / Which is usually hid / By the slack at the back of his knicks.
1912		Western Times 16 Feb. 4/6: [advert] Sale Now On — Bargains in [...] Men’s and Boy’s Trousers, Knicks, etc.

3. (also knick-knacks) knickers.

1896		Tresor & LeBrunn [perf. Marie Lloyd] Among My Knick-knacks 🎵 Every picture that I find / Of a rather tasty kind / I put it in my drawer among my knick-knacks.
1908		Sun. Times (Perth) 26 Apr. 4/7: We have paid for silken flounces, / Not to mention silken knicks.
1915		R.P. Hamilton diary 9 Feb. 🌐 Lost pyjamas – sleeping in vest & knicks.
1926		Dublin Eve. Mail 4 Jan. 6/6: [advert] Oddments at half-Price. A Special lot of [...] Cami-knicks, Chemises and Knicks.
1932		Western Gaz. 2 Dec. 6/1: Beautidful set in box, comprising opera top slip and knicks.
1949		Hull Dly Mail 23 Aug. 4/3: [advert] Lace and Satin Cami-knicks.
1950		Fads & Fancies 1 18: The little suspender clips with the frilly attachments going up and disappearing under each leg of the knicks makes a truly thrilling picture.
1964		P. Terson Night to Make the Angels Weep (1967) II xiii: Little girl’s vests, little girl’s knicks.
1974		‘P.B. Yuill’ Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 58: I felt like a Girl Guide caught with her knicks down.
2007		R. Milward Apples (2023) 33: I turned over in the bed, sorted out the bra and knicks.
2012		J. Fagan Panopticon (2013) 21: D’ye want tae sniff my knick-knacks?