1. a. A state of lowness or inferiority. In phr. to be at a great under. Now dial.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXII. lxi. 471. They were unwilling … that Anniball (who as the voyce went, was at a very great under for money) should be inriched thereby.
1869. Lonsdale Gloss., 89/2. To be at a girt under, to be in a state of thraldom, subdued.
b. dial. An undervalue.
1828. Carr, Craven Gloss., s.v.
2. pl. Underclothes, underwear.
1731. Fielding, Letter-writers, Wks. 1775, II. 158. He’ll make us pope [ = pawn] our unders for the reckoning: we’ll not go with him.
1905. ‘E. Nesbit,’ Amulet, vii. Let’s … get into flannels. We can’t go in our unders.
