Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “swimsuit” come from?

Swimsuit derives from English swim and suit, with suit tracing to Middle English swimmen, Old French sieute, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European sekʷ-, meaning to follow or pursue.

swimsuit (English): A garment worn for swimming; A tight-fitting...

Definitions

  1. A garment worn for swimming; A tight-fitting...

Ancestry of “swimsuit”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsuitA set of clothes to be worn together, now...
2Middle EnglishsuteClothes or clothing; especially those that match;...
3Anglo-Normansuitepursuit
4Vulgar Latinsequita—
5LatinsequorI follow, come or go after
6Proto-Italicsekʷōrfollow, come/go after
7Proto-Indo-Europeansékʷetorto be following
8Proto-Indo-Europeansekʷ-to follow; to see; to say

Words derived from “swimsuit”

  • swimsuited
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sekʷ- →