The story
Recorded since 1845 in the plural, meaning “drawers for men”, a derogatory diminutive of pants (the shortening of pantaloons); meaning “underpants for women or children” first recorded 1908.
First known use, by meaning
- from the 19th c. Short trousers for men, or more usually boys.
- from the 20th c. An article of clothing worn as underpants by women.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.