Briefs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about male underwear, see Full Cut Briefs for female underwear. For other uses of Brief(s), see Brief
Briefs are a type of Y-shaped underwear and swimwear, as opposed to styles where the material extends down the legs.
In the case of men's underwear, briefs, unlike boxer shorts, hold the user's genitals in a relatively fixed position, which makes briefs a popular underwear choice for men who are participating in athletic activities or who feel they need more support than loose-fitting underwear can provide. They also conceal erections better than boxers.
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[edit] History
Briefs were first sold on 19 January 1935 by Coopers Inc., in Chicago, Illinois. They dubbed the new undergarment the "Jockey" because it offered a similar degree of support as the jockstrap (one style of which is also called Jock brief or Support briefs). 30,000 pairs were sold within three months of their introduction. In North America, "Jockey shorts" or "Jockeys" is often used as a generic term for men's briefs.
In Great Britain, briefs were first sold in 1938. Soon, shops were selling 3,000 briefs per week. They were so popular that in 1948 every member of the British Olympic team was given a free pair of briefs.
In Britain the term "jockeys" has not caught on, and briefs are often referred to as "Y-fronts", even though the fly opening may differ in style and not actually form the shape of the letter "Y".
In Australia, briefs are often referred to as "jocks", but should not be confused with jockstraps (more specifically used by athletes) which expose the buttocks.
In recent years, a hybrid called boxer briefs has become popular. Like boxers, they have short legs, but like briefs, they are made of elastic, snug-fitting material.
[edit] Briefs in popular culture
- "Tighty whities," or "Whitey-tighties," is a common American nickname for briefs. The term originally was derogatory in nature and was coined by wearers of boxer shorts to make fun of those who wore briefs, although the name has become mainstream and is usually accepted as the name of briefs. White is the most common color but they also come in many different colors and patterns.
- In the 1990s, briefs were seen as uncool, especially among U.S. teenagers. Bullying has often been the result of wearing tighty-whiteys. In cartoons, usually the victims of wedgies wore "tighty whities."
- "Jockey Briefs" are recognized with an entry (Page 52) in Quintessences: the Quality of Having It (New York: Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, 1983).
In recent years, there has been a renewed popularity in briefs:
- Since 1998, there has been an annual Underpants Run as part of the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii.
- Robert John Burck, also known as the "Naked Cowboy", is a musician who plays in Times Square (Manhattan, New York City) clad only in his briefs, boots and a cowboy hat.
- In 2002, columnist Dan Savage held a "Tighty Whities Are Hot" contest.
- On May 3, 2003, Ashton Kutcher delivered his opening monologue on Saturday Night Live in a pair of briefs.
- On June 11, 2004, English football captain David Beckham was photographed by a paparazzo while standing on the balcony of a Lisbon hotel wearing nothing but a pair of briefs.
[edit] Video games
- Carl Johnson from the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas wears white briefs underneath his clothes, as can be seen when the player removes his trousers in the changing room of one of his safehouses.
[edit] Television shows
- The animated cartoon character Homer Simpson is often depicted sitting on his couch in his briefs drinking a can of 'Duff Beer'.
- In the show Malcolm in the Middle The boys are often depicted exposing their briefs Including one incident where Malcolm is seen by a little girl he has a crush on. Hal is even arrested wearing only a shirt and a pair of briefs.
- In competitive swimwear, competition briefs, or speedos as they are commonly called, are a popular style of bathing suits.
- In the 2002 teen film, The New Guy, Dizzy Gillespie Harrison (the main character) is seen tied to a chair with a pair of white briefs on top of his head.
[edit] Comic strips
- In the comic strips Bloom County and Outland, cartoonist Berkeley Breathed often drew his characters Opus the Penguin and Bill the Cat sitting on a couch wearing briefs while discussing their anxieties.
- In a July 1997 issue of the comic strip Motley's Crew, Mike Motley is shaking the hand of his brother-in-law Abel while wearing a used three-piece tuxedo with a pair of white briefs sticking out of his formal trousers while his wife Mabel is watching.
[edit] Other languages
In various continental European languages, such as Dutch, French, German and Spanish, briefs are not called by a word indicating shortness, but rather by the English word slip, which in English is rather used for a type of lingerie, the slip (clothing).
