Underwear: A Journey Through Its History and Names Around the World

The Etymological Origin of the Word Underwear

There is no doubt that the term underwear is the most commonly used word to refer to men's underwear today. Moreover, it is the only one used in a formal context, while others are more colloquial (like the case of boxers).

But where does this word come from? To trace its etymological origin, we need to do a little research on the root of this term:

• Calcis. The Romans referred to the heel with various terms, including calcis, although all descended from the same root.
• Calceus. This was a word that came from the same root and defined the garment that fit the foot, the shoe.
• Calceas. When they began to use stockings, they called them calceas. Over time, stockings covered from the feet to the waist, until they were later divided into two parts.
• Socks. One of the parts into which the calceas were divided covered the calf and the feet, giving rise to the term socks.
• Shorts. The other part covered the abdomen and buttocks, and began to be known as shorts. As the size of this garment decreased, the diminutive ‘illo’ was added, and that’s where the word underwear comes from.

Synonyms for Underwear by Country

What other ways are there to refer to this men's undergarment? Depending on the latitude we are in, we will find different terms that refer to underwear:

• Shorts. This word is used in various parts of South America and Guatemala to refer to underwear. For example: “I’m going to change my shorts, they’re dirty.”
• Trunks. It’s interesting that this word is used in different parts of the world to denote similar garments. For example, in Cuba and the Dominican Republic, it is used to define swimwear, in Mexico for underwear, and in Peru, it is used for both men's and women's underwear. Interesting, right? An example of use would be: “I bought a new trunk to go to the gym.”
• Baggy shorts. This is what underwear is called in countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. It also means wide and short pants. An example of use would be: “I put on some cotton baggy shorts to sleep.”

We have seen that there is life beyond terms like boxers or underwear, even though they are the most used in Spain. Each region has its way of defining men's underwear, how do you like to call it? Leave a comment

Men's underwear is a garment that has evolved over the centuries, adapting to the needs, tastes, and fashions of each era and culture. According to some studies, the first known underwear dates back to almost seven thousand years ago, when prehistoric man used leather to cover and protect his genitals while performing daily tasks. In ancient times, the Greeks did not wear underwear, only the traditional “chiton” that wrapped them entirely. The Romans wore a kind of shorts called “subligaculum,” under the toga. In the Middle Ages, underwear that did not tie was developed, and it became the norm.

The term underwear, which is the most commonly used word to refer to men's underwear today, comes from the diminutive of shorts, which in turn derives from the Latin calceus, "shoe." Long underwear comes from the old Union Suit, which was a one-piece undergarment that covered from shoulders to ankles. In the modern sense, underwear began to be used around the Renaissance (15th and 16th centuries). The main types of underwear are boxers and briefs. Boxers can be classic, compression, or fitted, and briefs can come in different shapes and materials.

Men's underwear has changed a lot in every sense from the early 20th century to the present day. Thus, we can see from the unappealing designs that covered practically the entire body for hygiene reasons, to the more current versions of boxers or briefs. Men's underwear has transitioned from being a functional garment to a fashion item, reflecting the personality, style, and taste of each man.

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Don't miss our themed event Boxers

Madrid December 15

If you like fetishes: boxers, briefs, underwear, jockstraps, PeC invites you to wear your fetish in the play area for this special event. Keep your penis erect with your garment and take it out and shake it.

We also encourage you to bring several used garments, or not, to exchange among all attendees at the event