# What were Daisy Dukes called before Dukes of Hazzard? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 25, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424 "2010-08-25T17:57:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/81 "2010-08-27T18:08:26Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > > [@whole\_bean](#): > > > > You have officially mastered the non-sequitur. > > > > To recap: you said bermuda shorts were now known as “khakees” and “camos.” You were ridiculed. In support for your preposterous proposition, you cite: > > > > 1. a google search, some of the results for which discuss a Caribbean island ban on khaki colored clothing, often pants, and camouflage clothing, both of which are common for military uniforms. None of the cites I looked over conflate the two. In fact, at least one cite makes the distinction between khaki and camouflage. > > > > 2. a page from a military clothing supplier’s website, which contains the following “Major designers have always adapted khaki and camouflage and other features of military clothing in their designs.” (Emphasis mine). No mention of either of these words being synonymous with Bermuda shorts. > > > > 3. A website that apparently helps the colorblind dress themselves and also calls a pair of long camouflage patterned pants “khakis.” > > > > It’s as if the fact that the words “camo” and “khaki” appear alongside mention of the Caribbean (which has nothing to do with the island nation of Bermuda located pretty much due east of North Carolina) have in your mind lead to the conclusion that bermuda shorts are called camos. Seriously, are you a real person or a computer? > > [Bermuda Shorts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_shorts) were originally modelled after British Military Cargo Khakis, so it seems we have come full circle. Now they just use camo sometimes, too. Dammit, dude, did you even read that? According to your very own cite, berumuda shorts were fashioned after British mitlitary shorts, but it says nothing about those British military shorts being cargo shorts (the shorts pictured aren’t cargo shorts). This conclusion, that bermuda shorts are distinct from cargo shorts is, again, supported by your cite, " Cargo shorts may be a similar length, but are typically baggy or less ‘tailored’ than Bermuda shorts." None of this changes the fact that cargos, khakis and bermudas are not, nor have they ever been confused with, Daisy Dukes. Next thing, you’ll be saying how the name Daisy Dukes goes back to the English nobility who served as officers in the tropics. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/82 "2010-08-27T18:09:02Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > [Bermuda Shorts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_shorts) were originally modelled after British Military Cargo Khakis, so it seems we have come full circle. Now they just use camo sometimes, too. Did the British Military ever wear what are now referred to as Daisy Dukes? Hell, did they even wear Bermuda length cut-offs? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/83 "2010-08-27T18:16:29Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > > [@devilsknew](#): > > > > Nobody calls Daisy Dukes Bermudas, Cargos, Camos, nor Khakis though… which is where your logic train went. > > > > Oh, but people do… I’ve heard it. > > Well, all we can say is that you live in an oddball linguistic isolate that apparently has a unique fashion vocabulary. I mean, people call bermudas “khakis” where you live and they called Daisy Dukes “Bermudas?” That’s got to be a highly regionalized usage. No, I’m saying that the original terminology, “Bermuda Shorts” was replaced with the fashion style of “Khaki Shorts”, which, stylistically are nothing more than Bermuda Shorts renamed. And has since been renamed “Khakis” and “Camo Khaki Shorts” has been shorthanded yet further to “Camos” or “Khakis”, interchangeably. And that around here cut off jean shorts were commonly known as Bermudas and took on different meanings and styles, probably by the same linguistic evolution. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/84 "2010-08-27T18:23:31Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > > [@pulykamell](#): > > > > Well, all we can say is that you live in an oddball linguistic isolate that apparently has a unique fashion vocabulary. I mean, people call bermudas “khakis” where you live and they called Daisy Dukes “Bermudas?” That’s got to be a highly regionalized usage. > > No, I’m saying that the original terminology, “Bermuda Shorts” was replaced with the fashion style of “Khaki Shorts”, which, stylistically are nothing more than Bermuda Shorts renamed. And has since been renamed “Khakis” and “Camo Khaki Shorts” has been shorthanded yet further to “Camos” or “Khakis”, interchangeably. And that around here cut off jean shorts were commonly known as Bermudas probably by the same linguistic evolution. Wide left. Bermuda shorts are called khaki shorts when they are khaki in color. Blue or gray or white or pink bermuda shorts are not “khakis.” Bermuda shorts might be called camo if someone were to make bermuda shorts of camouflage material (the camo shorts that I’ve seen, both in this thread and in real life, are cargo shorts not bermuda shorts). I think the upshot is that today you are just as confused about what constitutes khakis, camos, cargos as you were thirty years ago when folks giggled behind your back because you called cut off jeans “bermudas.” ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/85 "2010-08-27T18:24:55Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > No, I’m saying that the original terminology, “Bermuda Shorts” was replaced with the fashion style of “Khaki Shorts”, which, stylistically are nothing more than Bermuda Shorts renamed. And has since been renamed “Khakis” and “Camo Khaki Shorts” has been shorthanded yet further to “Camos” or “Khakis”, interchangeably. And that around here cut off jean shorts were commonly known as Bermudas and took on different meanings and styles, probably by the same linguistic evolution. Except for the fact that this is totally wrong. Plaid Bermuda shorts would never be called Khakis nor Camos. Khakis can be long or short. I had never heard of Khaki Camos before your link to the Gap so I’ll give you that one, but in my mind they are two totally different things… Khakis are tan, Camo is multi color with irregular shapes. Even if the Khakis are loose and down to the knee, if they have cargo pockets all over the place nobody (other than your group of influence) would ever call them Bermudas. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/86 "2010-08-27T18:26:31Z")
Would this be a good time to ask **devilsknew** what they called the onion that hung off his belt? ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/87 "2010-08-27T18:28:55Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > > [@devilsknew](#): > > > > No, I’m saying that the original terminology, “Bermuda Shorts” was replaced with the fashion style of “Khaki Shorts”, which, stylistically are nothing more than Bermuda Shorts renamed. And has since been renamed “Khakis” and “Camo Khaki Shorts” has been shorthanded yet further to “Camos” or “Khakis”, interchangeably. And that around here cut off jean shorts were commonly known as Bermudas and took on different meanings and styles, probably by the same linguistic evolution. > > Except for the fact that this is totally wrong. Plaid Bermuda shorts would never be called Khakis nor Camos. Khakis can be long or short. I had never heard of Khaki Camos before your link to the Gap so I’ll give you that one, but in my mind they are two totally different things… Khakis are tan, Camo is multi color with irregular shapes. Even if the Khakis are loose and down to the knee, if they have cargo pockets all over the place nobody (other than your group of influence) would ever call them Bermudas. the GAP uses “khaki” pretty liberally to refer to any cotton twill pant ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/88 "2010-08-27T18:29:55Z")
> [@descamisado](#): > > Would this be a good time to ask **devilsknew** what they called the onion that hung off his belt? see posts 54, 59 and 60 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/89 "2010-08-27T18:32:12Z")
> [@descamisado](#): > > Would this be a good time to ask **devilsknew** what they called the onion that hung off his belt? And how many bees you can get for a quarter? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/90 "2010-08-27T19:22:49Z")
The thing I don’t like about the Gap is that they don’t sell neckties, which are sometimes refered to as “evening gowns” or “socks.” ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/91 "2010-08-27T19:27:11Z")
> [@whole\_bean](#): > > > [@devilsknew](#): > > > > No, I’m saying that the original terminology, “Bermuda Shorts” was replaced with the fashion style of “Khaki Shorts”, which, stylistically are nothing more than Bermuda Shorts renamed. And has since been renamed “Khakis” and “Camo Khaki Shorts” has been shorthanded yet further to “Camos” or “Khakis”, interchangeably. And that around here cut off jean shorts were commonly known as Bermudas probably by the same linguistic evolution. > > Wide left. Bermuda shorts are called khaki shorts when they are khaki in color. Blue or gray or white or pink bermuda shorts are not “khakis.” Bermuda shorts might be called camo if someone were to make bermuda shorts of camouflage material (the camo shorts that I’ve seen, both in this thread and in real life, are cargo shorts not bermuda shorts). I think the upshot is that today you are just as confused about what constitutes khakis, camos, cargos as you were thirty years ago when folks giggled behind your back because you called cut off jeans “bermudas.” Which demonstrates my point exactly. Originally, Bermudas were only Khaki color… Bermudas were synonomyous with shortened dress Khakis. But fashion and popular usage and native coinage changed that. Bermudas could be many colors, prints, and styles depending on local language and fashion. And I have seen many styles of Camo Khaki shorts, with, and without cargo pockets, but the one unifying factor is that they are all bermuda cut. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/92 "2010-08-27T19:30:52Z")
Everybody just calm down and have a soda. Or, as they were commonly called in the 70’s, “bubbly pops.” ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/93 "2010-08-27T19:39:12Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Bermudas were only Khaki color NO THEY WERE NOT… from your own Wiki cite: > [@](#): > > The shorts were made from a very itchy grey flannel material ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/94 "2010-08-27T19:45:42Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > And I have seen many styles of Camo Khaki shorts, _with, and without cargo pockets_, but the one unifying factor is that _they are all bermuda cut_. Man, you fucking cited a page that demonstrates this to be false. Just in case you were too lazy to read your own cite, I quoted it in this very thread. Has it occured to you that you just might be so far off the reservation on this that you should just admit you dreamt it all? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/95 "2010-08-27T19:48:39Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Nope… but I assure you that was a common colloquial usage. Where were you residing at the time? I’d bet that there’s someone on this board that is familiar with whatever town it was. Perhaps familiar enough with it to corroborate your assertion. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/96 "2010-08-27T19:54:13Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > the one unifying factor is that they are all bermuda cut. So, now are you admitting that Bermuda cut means just above the knee and not Daisy Dukes? Or, have you seen DD’s with cargo pockets, and/or cargo shorts that originated as blue jeans? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/97 "2010-08-27T19:59:53Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Everybody just calm down and have a soda. Or, as they were commonly called in the 70’s, “bubbly pops.” They were never called that. They were called bermuda pops. But I didn’t have many back then, because my mom would usually only let me drink bermuda milk. On some occasions, she’d let me have a bermuda beer, which was just another name for bermuda milk. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/98 "2010-08-27T20:35:04Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > No, I’m saying that the original terminology, “Bermuda Shorts” was replaced with the fashion style of “Khaki Shorts”, which, stylistically are nothing more than Bermuda Shorts renamed. No. Not all bermuda shorts are khaki, and not all khaki shorts are bermudas. “Bermuda” refers to the cut. “Khaki” refers to the color or material. [These bermudas](http://z.about.com/d/kidsfashion/1/0/9/E/Bermudas.jpg) are not khakis. These [khaki shorts](http://www.shefinds.com/files/khaki-shorts.jpg) are not bermudas. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/99 "2010-08-27T20:45:33Z")
> [@whole\_bean](#): > > > [@descamisado](#): > > > > Would this be a good time to ask **devilsknew** what they called the onion that hung off his belt? > > see posts 54, 59 and 60 No, I want his version. That oughta be good. And everybody knows sodas were called Boston Pops. **devilsknew** , could you just stop digging; subways tunnels in city in China are starting to collapse. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424/100 "2010-08-27T21:56:38Z")
The term **Bermuda Shorts** actually goes back to at least 1940. The Wikipedia cites are mainly about **Men’s** shorts, but women were wearing them before men. Florence Gainor was a sportswear buyer for Saks in 1938. She introduced quite a few fashion trends, including what became known as Bermuda Shorts in 1939. These were straight cuffed and reached to the knee. She also introduced a pair of shorts for women which looked like a skirt. Can you say “culottes, or skort?” And, her stuff wasn’t just in khaki. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-daisy-dukes-called-before-dukes-of-hazzard/551424.md?page=6)