bathrobe
UK[ˈbɑːθrəʊb]US[ˈbæθroʊb]
n
a loose piece of clothing, usually made of towelling, worn before or after a bath or swim.
Morpheme Breakdown
bath
robe
bath
washing
robe
garment
Etymology
the word 'bathrobe' is a modern english compound, formed by combining two old english and old french elements. 'bath' originates from the proto-germanic 'baþą', related to the act of washing, while 'robe' descends from the germanic 'raubō', via old french, originally denoting booty or a stolen garment, which evolved to mean a long, loose gown. the compound logically describes a robe specifically designed for use around the time of bathing, reflecting its functional purpose. this transparent formation showcases english's tendency to create precise, descriptive terms from existing lexical stock.
Analysis
Structure: bath (washing) + robe (garment)
- bath: from old english 'bæð', meaning the act of washing the body in water. functional role: indicates the context or purpose of the garment.
- robe: from old french 'robe', meaning a long, loose outer garment. functional role: indicates the type of clothing.
Examples
she wrapped herself in a warm bathrobe after stepping out of the shower.
he packed his swimsuit and a light bathrobe for the hotel pool.
the soft, cotton bathrobe hung on a hook behind the bathroom door.