all-cotton

The word "all-cotton" is a modern English compound adjective formed by combining the native English intensifier "all" with the loanword "cotton." "All" derives from the Proto-Germanic allaz, carrying the enduring sense of totality and completeness. "Cotton" has a more complex journey, originating from the Arabic quṭun, entering European languages through Mediterranean trade, and ultimately referring to the soft, fibrous material from the Gossypium plant. The compound logically and transparently denotes a textile product composed wholly of this specific material, with "all" assuring no blend with other fibers like polyester or wool.

Structure: all (entirely) + cotton (fiber/plant) - all: From Old English eall, meaning "entire, whole, every." It functions as an intensifying prefix in compounds, indicating completeness. - cotton: From Arabic quṭun, via Old Italian cotone and Old French coton. It functions as the noun root specifying the material.