one-piece
UK[ˌwʌn ˈpiːs]US[ˌwʌn ˈpiːs]
adj
Consisting of or made in a single undivided piece.
n
A garment, especially a swimsuit or a child's garment, made in a single piece.
Morpheme Breakdown
one
piece
one
single
piece
part
Etymology
The compound 'one-piece' is a transparent English formation, directly combining the numeral 'one' with the noun 'piece'. The word 'one' traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root óynos, signifying a single unit, which evolved into the Old English 'ān'. 'Piece' entered English via Old French from a Gaulish base, carrying the sense of a fragment or part. When combined, the literal meaning "a single part" logically evolved to describe objects, particularly garments, manufactured as a continuous, unified whole rather than as separate components joined together. This reflects a straightforward descriptive logic where the compound's meaning is the sum of its parts.
Analysis
Structure: one (single) + piece (part)
- one: From Old English 'ān' (one, a single), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'een' and German 'ein'. Functions as a numeral adjective indicating singularity.
- piece: From Old French 'piece', of Gaulish origin; related to the notion of a part or portion. Functions as a noun denoting a distinct portion or unit.
Examples
She wore a stylish one-piece swimsuit to the beach.
For convenience, they bought a one-piece pajama for their toddler.
The sculpture was carved from a one-piece block of marble.