mac

The word 'mac' has multiple, distinct etymological streams that converged on the same simple spelling. In its use for a raincoat, it is a shortening of 'Mackintosh', named after the Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh who patented the waterproof fabric in the early 19th century. For the computer, it is a shortening of 'Macintosh', a variety of apple chosen as the brand name for Apple's personal computer line. The informal address for a man may derive from the Scottish and Irish Gaelic patronymic prefix Mac- ("son of"), which was often used in surnames and could be adopted as a generic term. Thus, 'mac' represents a modern linguistic phenomenon where clippings from trademarks and cultural terms become independent, common nouns.

This word is a simplex form. It originates as a shortened form or nickname from longer proper names (like Macintosh for the computer or Mackintosh for the coat) or from the Gaelic patronymic prefix Mac- meaning "son of".