Word Origins

 

*UNMENTIONABLES

Toward the end of the eighteenth century it was impolite to mention the words trousers or breeches. Since it was obviously necessary at times to refer to these ubiquitous garments, various euphemistic terms were coined for the purpose, and trousers became inexpressibles, inexplicables, ineffables, or unmentionables. Later, when trousers regained their standing in polite society, it was shameful to talk about undergarments, especially women's undergarments, and these became unmentionables. By the end of the twentieth century, advertising began removing all traces of anything unmentionable.

Note: Shown above is a 1928 advertisement for the Cooper Underwear Company. Today it is better known as Jockey.

*Inspired by Charles Funk (1881–1957)