kit
UK[kɪt]US[kɪt]
n
A set of tools, equipment, or materials used for a particular purpose or activity.
n
A set of parts sold together to be assembled into something.
n
The clothing and personal equipment used by a soldier, traveler, or sports player.
Etymology
The word 'kit' entered English in the 14th century from the Middle Dutch 'kitte', meaning a wooden vessel or tankard. This sense of a container broadened over time to encompass the collection of items held within it. By the 18th century, 'kit' had evolved to signify the personal equipment and necessaries carried by a soldier, a meaning directly derived from the idea of a container holding one's belongings. The modern abstract meanings—a set of tools, parts, or specialized clothing—all logically extend from this core concept of a collected assemblage of items for a specific purpose.
Analysis
The word 'kit' is a simplex word of Middle Dutch origin. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English form.
Examples
He kept his first-aid kit in the trunk of his car.
The model airplane came as a kit with hundreds of tiny pieces.
The team's new kit for the season features a bold stripe design.