Drawers
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "drawers" means underpants or underwear. It’s an older English term still common in rural talk and family sayings.
synonyms: underwear, underpants, undergarments
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Oh you'll hear 'pull your drawers up, son!' down at the Walmarks. That one's pretty common. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Oh you'll hear 'pull your drawers up, son!' down at the Walmarks. That one's pretty common. Pronunciation
[DRAWRZ] /ˈdrɔːrz/ or [DRAWS] /drɑːz/
Meaning & Usage
- Underpants / underwear (noun)
Mae:
Where are your clean drawers?
Where are your clean drawers?
Earl:
In the top drawer.
In the top drawer.- Long underwear (noun, older usage)
Mae:
You wearin’ your long drawers?
You wearin’ your long drawers?
Earl:
Sure am-it’s cold.
Sure am-it’s cold.★ "Drawers" originally referred to garments you "drew" on. In the South/Appalachia it survived well past its decline elsewhere. "Draws" is the clipped form often heard today. ★
Origin and Etymology
Especially common in the South and South Midland, this older English word (dating to the 16th century) for undergarments was retained regionally even as "underwear" became standard elsewhere.
Usage Notes
Still heard today among older Southerners and in rural speech. Younger speakers might say "underwear" but recognize "drawers," especially in idioms like "get your drawers in a knot."
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "drawers" often sounds like "drars" or "drawrz"; many speakers shorten it to "draws."