A euphemism for trousers, used ludicrously, and traced to ‘Peter Pindar,’ 1790: N.E.D.
1801. The size of a Turk’s inexpressibles is very convenient, and much admired by the fair sex.—The Port Folio, i. 340 (Phila.).
1824. We thought about those “inexpressibles” (principally worn by our wives) having been repaired.—The Microscope, Albany, May 29.
1830. The man in “Varmount,” who, disdaining all machinery, took himself up by the waist bands of his unmentionables.—Mass. Spy, Jan. 6: from the N.Y. Constellation.
1830. Underneath this frock [worn by Chinese women in Canton] was that garment that has as good a claim to be called ‘inexpressible,’ or ‘unmentionable’ as the corresponding one, belonging, of right, to our sex, but occasionally usurped by the ladies, which descended to the ancles.—N. Ames, ‘A Mariner’s Sketches,’ p. 106.
1833. My frock was nearly rent in twain,—and my unmentionables were somewhat endamaged.—Am. Monthly Mag., i. 394 (Aug.). (Italics in the original.)
1836. The managers have resolved to insist upon their wearing stockings and unmentionables.—Phila. Public Ledger, April 5.
1836. The apothecary then … looped up the posterior crack in the unmentionables with a surgeon’s needle.—Id., Nov. 2.
1837. How could he … see about procuring for himself a pair of unwhisperables from his host?—Knick. Mag., ix. 288 (March).
1842. The child was wrapped in white linen, and then crammed into a bag made of the leg of a pair of inexpressibles.—Phila. Spirit of the Times, April 20.
1842. The larceny of two vests and two pair of inexpressibles.—Id., April 25.
1842. She ran away, taking with her sundry frocks, capes, caps, handkerchiefs, petticoats, unmentionables, &c.—Id., May 4.
1848. Mr. Brattle dressed himself in a new bright blue coat, with shiny buttons, a guady vest, and a pair of large and showy unwhisperables.—W. E. Burton, ‘Waggeries,’ pp. 74–5 (Phila.).
