armhole
Meaning
An opening in a piece of clothing through which the arm is put.
Structure
Usage
The tailor carefully measured the armhole to ensure a comfortable fit.
This jacket is too tight under the arms because the armholes are cut too high.
She adjusted the pattern to lower the armhole for better mobility.
Etymology
The word "armhole" is a straightforward compound noun formed from two native English words. "Arm," denoting the upper limb, has ancient roots in the concept of a joint or a part that fits together. "Hole," describing an opening or hollow space, originates from the idea of a concealed or covered void. When combined, these elements logically describe the functional opening in a garment designed for the arm to pass through. This transparent construction exemplifies how English creates precise, descriptive terms by joining simple, concrete concepts.
Analysis
- arm: From Old English earm, meaning the limb of the body. Its Proto-Indo-European root is ar-, meaning "to fit together," which also gave rise to words for joint and arm. - hole: From Old English hol, meaning a hollow place, cavity, or opening. Its Proto-Germanic root is hul-, from the PIE root kel-, meaning "to cover, conceal," which is the source of hollow spaces.