What Is A Knickerbocker?

Albany's Knickerbocker Film Festival is set to kick off in April, which raises excitement and questions. Like “what the hell is a Knickerbocker”?

Sure Carmelo Anthony and Jason Kidd are technically knickerbockers but there’s got to be more to it.  Immediately I want to believe it’s when someone starts doing some filthy bocking while wearing their knickers. However, that’s not it at all..or is it?.. It isn't! Shucks!

The Term “Knickerbocker” dates back to 1809. The term is in reference to Dutch settlers who came to America through New York. The word “Knickerbocker” is simply based on the type of pants the Dutch were wearing at the time. Author Washington Irving coined the knickerbocker name in New York when he wrote “A History of New York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty”. Irving’s book introduced the word "knickerbocker" to signify a New Yorker who could trace his or her ancestry to the original Dutch settlers.

There now you know. So when you are visiting Albany's Knickerbocker Film Festival April 2^nd – 4^th you’ll know why it hold that silly name. Personally I will continue to believe that the word “Knickerbocker” means something very derogatory towards Johann Sebastian Bach.