In her book U is for Undertow, author Sue Grafton has her character describing getting dressed and putting on various articles including "choners." I can't find any definition for this word. Does anyone know what it refers to? Is it a brand name, although it wasn't in caps?

In the context it doesn't make sense. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Choner

I looked online and found that one, which is obviously wrong. It has to be an item of apparel but some mysterious ladies' garment which has been invented since the last time I undressed a woman. Granted, that was in a Neolithic age, but nonetheless....

Then try this on for size: https://www.wordnik.com/words/choners

Success!
I actually looked at that one but didn't scroll down far enough.
Have you ever heard that used before?

I have not. It must be quite rare.

New to me, but then I don't wear them, so how would I know.

Guess who gave me the definition? None other than Sue Grafton. I posted the question on her Facebook page and she says it is from a German term for underwear, mostly women's. Our info is it is Spanish but who knows? I was going to put her e-mail in my scrapbook but I don't have a book and also, what paste do you use for e-mails?

I found chones at mexicanguru.com as Mexican slang for panties. Figures, as Kinsey Milhone novels are set in Santa Barbara (called Santa Teresa in the books). Can't imagine any self-respecting German would use a word that short for underwear

quote:

Can't imagine any self-respecting German would use a word that short for underwear

Not when a bra is schtoppzemfloppen.

Heck - you fooled me! Thank heaven's for Google Translate.