Surf pants got their name

Boardshorts are a type of swimwear and casual wear in the form of long (approximately knee length) loose-fitting shorts that are designed to be quick-drying and are generally made from strong and smooth polyester or nylon material. Originally known as surf trunks, later as Jams, and occasionally in British English as swim shorts, boardshorts are a style of men's^[1] and, more recently, women's^[2] summerwear.

The name "boardshorts" is based on their use in aquatic sports that use a board, such as surfing. They may also be called boardies (first coined by Body Glove in 1953) especially in Australia, or baggies particularly in South Africa.