Are 'knickers' offensive to americans?

Question

I was watching an american program a while ago and someone said knickers [as in pants, and pants of fire, knickers caught in the telephone wire etc] and a black character got really offended. this was the first time i realised how similar it sounded to 'that word thou shalt not utter'. and i was wondering if it would be offensive to americans where the knickers is not said as much in everyday speech

knickers are womens unmentionables [underwear]

Answer 1

I think the episode you saw was trying to make a bad pun. While I don't think "knickers" is an offensive term to most Americans, it's also not a common used term.

Answer 2

Most people in America do not know the word knickers, especially in reference to panties. But what I don't get is the offending reference the Americans would be upset about? Why did the character get offended, what is the word that sounds like knickers, and what does it mean?


Edit........
Ahh ok of course, I get it no wonder the girl got pissed off!

Answer 3

I'm an American and i don't find the word knickers offensive

Answer 4

Oh, for the love of Mike , Nemo. The "n word", the "b word", the "c word" all banned, can't say this, can't do that and now you say "knickers" is to be abolished from the English language? What's next? Book burnings?

Answer 5

The word that the person said to the person must not have been knickers (the underwear term in UK) but N******.

You know, the ugly variation of *****?

THAT is offensive...you just heard wrong.

Answer 6

We don't, the show was probably just playing similar pronunciation of the word "knicker" and another derogatory term.

Answer 7

not in the least