pinafore
UK[ˈpɪnəfɔː]US[ˈpɪnəfɔːr]
n
a sleeveless dress worn over a blouse or sweater
n
a similar protective garment, often worn by children
Morpheme Breakdown
pin
afore
pin
feather, quill, point, peg
afore
in front of, before
Etymology
the word 'pinafore' is a compound formed from the english words 'pin' and 'afore', literally meaning "pinned in front." it originated in the late 18th century as a descriptive term for an apron or similar garment that was pinned ('pin') to the front ('afore') of a dress to protect it from stains. the 'pin' element refers to the original method of fastening the garment, rather than to the garment itself. over time, the term evolved specifically to denote a sleeveless dress or apron-like garment worn over other clothes, retaining the core idea of a protective front covering.
Analysis
Structure: pin + afore
pin: from middle english 'pin', from old english 'pinn', from latin 'pinna' meaning "feather, quill, point, peg". in this compound, it functions as a noun element with the sense of "fastening".
afore: from middle english 'afore', from old english 'onforan' meaning "in front of, before". in this compound, it functions as an adverbial element meaning "in front".
Examples
the little girl wore a floral pinafore over her white blouse.
she tied on a pinafore before starting to bake, to keep her dress clean.
the traditional school uniform included a navy blue pinafore.