outfit English · revision 6410

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1748}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈaʊtfɪt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[out-]] and [[fit]], after the phrase “fit out”.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The act of fitting out a ship for an expedition: 1769 in the OED and Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) MWU has 1748.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The equipment needed for an expedition is American from 1787, and the extended senses come from it.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A person's clothes, a set of garments, is from 1852,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a party travelling or in charge of cattle from 1867, any group of people working together from 1883.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The verb, to equip, is from 1772–98.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) In drug slang an outfit was the apparatus for injecting (1935).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1748 – fitting out (MWU).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1787 – equipment for an expedition.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1852 – a set of clothes.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1883 – a group of people.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A set of clothes worn together.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A group of people working together, such as a company or band.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A set of equipment for a particular purpose.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To provide with equipment or clothes.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[outfitter]]

+ * [[preoutfit]]

+ * [[reoutfit]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fit]]

+ * [[kit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}