outfit
UK[ˈaʊtfɪt]US[ˈaʊtˌfɪt]
n
a set of clothes worn together, especially for a particular occasion or activity.
n
an organization, company, team, or military unit.
v
to provide someone or something with the necessary equipment or clothes.
Morpheme Breakdown
out
fit
out
out, outer, external
fit
Etymology
the word 'outfit' originated in the early 19th century, combining the common english adverb/preposition 'out' with the noun 'fit'. its initial meaning was tied to the nautical term for a ship's complete set of sails and rigging, a 'fit out' or equipment for a voyage. the sense of 'fit' here shifted from its older meaning of a struggle to its modern sense of being suitable or proper for a purpose. from this specialized beginning, the term broadened to denote any complete set of equipment or articles for a specific purpose, eventually settling on its most common modern meanings: a coordinated set of clothes and, by extension, an organized group of people.
Analysis
Structure: out + fit
"out-" (old english, meaning 'out, outer, external') + "fit" (middle english, from old english 'fitt', meaning 'a conflict, a struggle', later evolving to mean 'suitable, proper').
Examples
she bought a new outfit for the job interview.
the whole outfit moved to a new office downtown.
the charity will outfit the school with new computers.