lingerie

The word 'lingerie' entered English directly from French in the 19th century, retaining its French spelling and pronunciation. Its French source, 'linge', meaning 'linen', originates from the Latin word 'lineus', meaning 'made of linen', which itself derives from 'linum', the Latin word for 'flax' or 'linen thread'. The French suffix '-erie' denotes a collective or a category of goods. Thus, the literal meaning is "things made of linen," which evolved from its original reference to undergarments made from linen fabric to its modern, broader sense of elegant or intimate women's clothing, typically made from finer, more delicate materials.

The word is a loanword from French, borrowed as a whole unit. It is derived from the French word 'linge', meaning 'linen', with the suffix '-erie' denoting a collective or a place associated with something.