uniform | Search Online Etymology Dictionary

56 entries found.

1530s, "of one form," from French uniforme (14c.), from Latin uniformis "having only one form or shape," from uni- "one" (see uni-) + forma "form" (see form (n.)). Related: Uniformly.

uniform (n.)

"distinctive clothes worn by one group," 1748, from French uniforme, from the adjective (see uniform (adj.)).

uniform (v.)

1680s, "to make alike," from uniform (adj.). Meaning "to dress in a uniform" is from 1861. Related: Uniformed.

uniformity (n.)

early 15c., from Old French uniformite (14c.) or directly from Late Latin uniformitatem (nominative uniformitas) "uniformity," from Latin uniformis (see uniform (adj.)).

equable (adj.)

1670s, back-formation from equability or else from Latin aequabilis "equal, consistent, uniform, not varying" from aequare "make uniform" (see equate). Related: Equably; equableness.

URL

by 1990, initialism (acronym) from uniform resource locator.

regimental (adj.)

"of or pertaining to a regiment," 1650s, from regiment (n.) + -al (1). Regimentals (n.), "dress proper to a particular regiment, military uniform," is attested from 1742.

zouave (n.)

member of a French light infantry troop, 1848, from French, from Arabic Zwawa, from Berber Igawawaen, name of a Kabyle tribe in Algeria, from which the zouaves originally were recruited in 1831. The military units soon became exclusively French but served only in Algeria until 1854 and were "distinguished for their dash, intrepidity, and hardihood, and for their peculiar drill and showy Oriental uniform" [Century Dictionary]. Some Northern regiments in the American Civil War adopted the name and elements of the uniform. The women's fashionable zouave jacket (1859) also is based on the uniform.

homogenize (v.)

"make similar," 1742, from homogenous + -ize. Sense of "render milk uniform in consistency" is from 1901. Related: Homogenized; homogenizing; homogenizer.

plain clothes (n.)

"ordinary dress of civil life" (as opposed to military uniform), 1822; in reference to police detectives, it is attested from 1842. Also plainclothes.

Trending words