couture
UK[kuːˈtjʊə]US[kuːˈtʊr]
n
The design and production of high-fashion clothing.
n
The business or art of fashion designers.
Etymology
The word 'couture' entered English directly from French in the early 20th century, coinciding with the rise of Paris as the global center of high fashion. In French, it is a common noun meaning "sewing" or "needlework," derived from the Old French 'cousture,' meaning "a sewing." This, in turn, originates from the Latin 'consutura,' a noun formed from the past participle 'consutus' (sewn together) of the verb 'consuere' (to sew together), itself a compound of 'con-' (together) and 'suere' (to sew). The semantic journey from the general Latin act of sewing to the specific modern English meaning of exclusive, designer-led fashion production reflects the cultural prestige associated with Parisian tailoring and design houses.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from French. It is not productively segmented into meaningful sub-parts in modern English spelling.
Examples
She dreams of a career in Parisian haute couture.
The dress was a stunning example of modern couture.
He studied both ready-to-wear and couture design techniques.