Beachwear

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Clothing designed specifically for wear at coastal locations typically includes swimwear and casual garments
2. Items intended for use at the beach usually consist of swim attire along with comfortable, lightweight outfits
3. Garments made for beach activities generally encompass swimsuits and leisurewear suited for warm weather environments

Etymology: Beachwear is a plain compound with no hidden story: "beach" joined to "-wear," the same "wear" that appears in menswear, sportswear and footwear. The beach part traces back to Old English "bæċ," a word for a stream or brook, which later came to mean a shingle or pebble-covered shore, probably because brooks run into the sea across such stones. Middle English had "bache," and the sense of a sandy or pebbly coast emerged from there. The second element comes from Old English "werian," meaning to clothe oneself, to put something on, which is ultimately the same root as "wear" in the sense of clothing. Combining the two gives a word that names clothing for the coast, a usage that grew alongside the seaside holiday.

Synonyms: swimwear, bathing suit