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lingerie

 - 3 dictionary results

lin⋅ge⋅rie

[lahn-zhuh-rey, lan-zhuh-ree, -juh-; Fr. lanzhuh-ree]
–noun
1. underwear, sleepwear, and other items of intimate apparel worn by women.
2. Archaic. linen goods in general.
–adjective
3. having the qualities of lingerie; lacy or frilly.

Origin:
1825–35; < F, equiv. to MF linge linen (< L līneus of flax; see line 1 ) + -erie -ery
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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lin·ge·rie   (län'zhə-rā', län'zhə-rē, lāɴ-zhə-rē')   
n.  
  1. Women's underwear.

  2. Archaic Linen articles, especially garments.


[French, from Old French, from linge, linen, from Latin līneus, made of linen, from līnum, flax; see lno- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

lingerie 
1835 (but not in widespread use until 1852), from Fr. lingerie "things made of linen," also "laundry room, linen shop" (15c.), from O.Fr. linge "linen" (12c.), from L. lineus (adj.) "of linen," from linum "flax, linen" (see linen). Originally introduced in Eng. as a euphemism for scandalous under-linen.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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