legging
Meaning
A tight-fitting garment covering the leg from the waist or hip to the ankle, typically worn by women or girls.
(usually leggings) A similar garment, often worn for exercise, warmth, or as a fashion item.
Structure
Usage
She paired her oversized sweater with a pair of black leggings.
These athletic leggings are designed for high-intensity workouts.
In the 19th century, leather leggings were worn for protection while riding.
Etymology
The word "legging" is a transparent English compound. Its first element, "leg," has a robust Germanic pedigree, traceable from Old Norse leggr (bone, limb) through Middle English, firmly establishing the core referent. The suffix "-ing" is a productive native English morpheme used to form nouns from other nouns or verbs, often indicating a thing connected with or made of the root concept. Originally used in the plural "leggings" from the 18th century, it referred to outer coverings for the legs, often of leather or other sturdy material. Over time, the term's application narrowed and evolved with fashion, now primarily denoting tight-fitting, stretchy garments that closely cover the legs, shifting from practical outerwear to an item of integrated fashion or athletic wear.
Analysis
- leg: From Old Norse leggr (limb, bone of the leg). A Germanic root functioning as the core noun denoting the body part the garment covers. - ing: A Middle English suffix from Old English -ing, -ung, forming nouns denoting materials, actions, or results. Here, it forms a noun for an item associated with the root word.