abs
UK[æbz]US[æbz]
n
The muscles of the abdomen, especially those made prominent by regular exercise.
Etymology
The word 'abs' is a modern English slang clipping, a shortened form of the noun 'abdominals' or the phrase 'abdominal muscles'. It is a classic example of lexical truncation, a common process in informal language where a longer, more technical term is abbreviated for ease of use, especially within specific subcultures like fitness and bodybuilding. The term 'abdominal' itself originates from the Latin 'abdomen', meaning 'belly', which is of uncertain deeper origin. The evolution from the formal Latin-derived 'abdominal muscles' to the colloquial 'abs' reflects a trend towards linguistic efficiency and in-group identity marking.
Analysis
N/A
Examples
He does hundreds of crunches every day to strengthen his abs.
A strong core relies on well-developed abs and back muscles.
The fitness model's defined abs were featured on the magazine cover.