Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dressing” come from?

Dressing derives from Middle English dressen, from Old French drecier meaning "to straighten or arrange," ultimately from Latin dirigo meaning "to direct or guide."

dressing (English): Material applied to a wound for protection or...

Definitions

  1. Material applied to a wound for protection or...

Ancestry of “dressing”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdressynge—
2Middle Englishdressen—
3Old Frenchdrecierto stand up; to get on one's feet
4Vulgar Latindirectiare—
5Latindīrectus—
6Latindīrigō—
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “dressing”

  • hairdressing
  • Thousand Island dressing
  • dressing gown
  • ドレッシング
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →