Definition of Knickerbocker

What is the definition of the term "Knickerbocker"? What does the term "Knicks" mean?

The New York Knicks are one of the NBA's most valuable and storied franchises.

The term "Knick" has been around long enough that nobody really questions what it means. When you really think about it though, the question will likely arise - just what is a knickerbocker?

The term "knickerbocker" was first used by writer Washington Irving, who published his "History of New York" under the name Diedrich Knickerbocker in 1831. Irving had "borrowed" his fictional last name from his friend, Herman Knickerbocker.

The name was then given to the original Dutch settlers in New York, who were affectionately called "Knickerbockers".

Eventually the term was given to all New Yorkers in general, as all residents of the city of New York became known as "Knickerbockers".

When the New York Knicks were formed in 1946, the team wanted a name that was representative of the city of New York, and the term "Knickerbockers" was chosen after a staff vote.

Over time, "Knickerbockers" has been shortened to just "Knicks", though there are still some people who call them the New York Knickerbockers.