jogreenknickers:
t is definitely one word. In the UK, we would usually refer to male underwear as pants, boxers and occasionally knickers.
So a few years ago I was listening to an actual play podcast. The bulk of the players were English (not from Wales or Scotland) and there someone from the US - who might have been the Keeper of Arcane Lore. The American kept talking about pants, boys pants, in the context that made sense. One of the female players pointed out one of the differences in language, that when he said "pants" she heard "boy's underwear". A bit later, she requested that he change his language to trousers or another word, and the other players chimed in agreeing with the request.
Yes, they were playing a game about cosmic horror, but she couldn't play as long as he was talking about boys pants.