Etymology and origin of the French word cellulite
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 1873 Littré–Robin More words from the 19th century
- Ultimate origin
- Latin cellula
Etymology tree
From the same root
Forms
cellulite f (plural cellulites)[1]
Etymology
It is formed from French cellule + -ite,[2][3][4][1] the suffix marking an inflammation.[4] The base was borrowed from Latin cellula, a diminutive of cella (“room”).[5]
Earliest recorded meaning
It is first recorded in 1873 in the medical dictionary of Littré and Robin, in medicine for an inflammation of the cellular connective tissue.[2][6][7] The GLLF dates it to 1878, from Larousse.[4]
Semantic evolution
From the medical sense came the everyday one, a swelling of the connective tissue under the skin that gives it the look called peau d'orange.[6][3][2] The adjective cellulitique (1952) and anticellulite (about 1950) are derived from it.[6]
Timeline
- 1873 – Littré and Robin record it.[2][6]
- 1878 – Larousse records it.[4]
- c. 1950 – Anticellulite appears.[6]
- 1952 – The adjective cellulitique appears.[6]
Meanings
Noun
- Cellulite, a swelling of the connective tissue under the skin that gives it a dimpled, peau d'orange look, as on the thighs.[3][2]
- (medicine) Cellulitis, an inflammation of the cellular connective tissue, often of infectious origin.[3][2][4]
Word family
- cellulitique
- anticellulite
Related words
- cellule
- cellulaire
- celluleux
- Latin cellula
References
- ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
- ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
- ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
- ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
Cite this entry
“Cellulite.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/cellulite. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.
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