- style (n.)
- c.1300, stile, "designation, title, manner or mode of expression," from O.Fr. estile "a stake, pale," from L. stilus "stake, instrument for writing, manner of writing, mode of expression," from PIE *sti-lo-, from base *sti- "point, prick, pierce" (see stick (v.)). Spelling modified by influence of Gk. stylos "pillar." Meaning "mode or fashion of life" is from 1770; that of "mode of dress" is from 1814. Stylish is first recorded 1797 in "Sense and Sensibility" (the adj. good is understood); and stylize is 1898, from Ger. stilisieren.
- style (v.)
- 1563, "to give a name to," from style (n.). Meaning "to arrange in fashionable style" (esp. of hair) is attested from 1934. Slang sense of "act or play in a showy way" is 1970s, originally black slang.