Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “couture” come from?

Couture comes from French haute couture, in which couture derives from Old French cousture, from Latin consuo meaning to sew together, formed from the prefix con- and suere meaning to sew.

couture (English): The production of high-end, custom-made clothing

Definitions

  1. The production of high-end, custom-made clothing

Ancestry of “couture”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishhaute coutureHigh fashion as produced in Paris and imitated in...
2Frenchhaute couturehaute couture, high fashion
3Frenchcouturesewing; dressmaking; seam
4Old Frenchcousture—
5Vulgar Latinconsuturasewing, clothesmaking, the art of sewing
6Latincōnsūtus—
7Latincōnsuō—
8Latincōn-—
9Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
10Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
11Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
13Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
14Middle Englishkyt—
15Germankitt—
16Old High Germankuti—
17Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
18Proto-Germanickweduzresin

Words derived from “couture”

  • couturial
Every word from Proto-Germanic kweduz →