Where does “cross-dressing” come from?

cross-dressing (English) comes from English dressing, from Middle English dressynge, from Middle English dressen, from Old French drecier, from Vulgar Latin directiare, from Latin dīrectus, from Latin dīrigō, from Latin dis- — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.

cross-dressing (English): The wearing of clothing which society considers...

Definitions

  1. The wearing of clothing which society considers...

Ancestry of “cross-dressing”, step by step

cross-dressing traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English dressing

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdressingMaterial applied to a wound for protection or...
2Middle Englishdressyngecontrol, dominion
3Middle EnglishdressenTo direct or aim oneself
4Old Frenchdrecierto stand up; to get on one's feet
5Vulgar Latindirectiare
6Latindīrectuslaid straight, arranged in lines, having been arranged in lines
7Latindīrigōto lay straight; arrange in lines (especially in military contexts)
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

via English cross

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcrossA geometrical figure consisting of two straight...
2Frenchcroixcross; a representation of a cross; the cross as...
3GermanKreuzcross; clubs; sharp
4SpanishCruzcross
5Portuguesecruzcross
6Italiancrocecross
7Latincruxwooden frame on which criminals were crucified,...
8Proto-Italic*kruks
9Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

via German Transvestismus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanTransvestismus

Words derived from “cross-dressing

Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ