At the beginning of the 17th century, New York City was a small
Dutch community located at the south end of Manhattan Island.
History tells us that the people of New Amsterdam were canny
traders and wore funny pants. A knickerbocker is a descendant of
these original Dutch settlers. The term can also refer to anyone
who lives in the city, hence the New York Knicks. But where does
the name come from? Apparently from the one and only Diedrich
Knickerbocker, the fictitious author of Washington Irving's 1809
novel Knickerbocker's History of New York. He's also mentioned in
the original title of Irving's most famous work, The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow: Found Among the Papers of the Late Diedrich
Knickerbocker. Diedrich was a product of his age: a descendant of
immigrants, a wide-eyed opportunist, and a fiercely proud American.
Using Diedrich Knickerbocker as a guiding light, Washington Irving
went on to found the Knickerbocker School, a group of writers who
were intent on distancing themselves from European traditions. Did
we mention the funny pants? Knickerbockers can also refer to baggy
pants that end just after the knees. Very useful for stomping about
in New York City puddles.
