Funny, the different usages we all have.  To me, being a Brit, "panties" always sounds funny.  Sort of overly polite but vaguely smutty in a stupid scoolboy sort of way.  "Knickers", on the other hand, is an inherently funny word, in the same way as "carrot".

We have several slang words for knickers, too.  Crackers, undies and keks are the ones I can think of at the moment.

I really should try to put together a guide to British usage and slang for the non-Brits here.

Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.

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