English

Noun

unmentionables pl ‎(plural only)

1. (plural only) undergarments, underwear, drawers
2. (plural only, obsolete) breeches, trousers

Usage notes

Because of a euphemism's intentional ambiguity, the perceived meaning can drift. While at first, "unmentionables" referred with Victorian hyper-sensitivity to trousers, the functional meaning drifted expediently to underwear. Currently, examples can be found where it is clear the writer or speaker means to refer expressly to the genitals.