Outfitters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A business that provides equipment and supplies for outdoor activities and adventures
2. A retailer specializing in clothing, gear, and resources for specific recreational pursuits
3. An establishment that prepares individuals with necessary tools and apparel for exploring nature or engaging in sports

Etymology: "Outfitter" is a simple formation: the noun "outfit" with the agent suffix "-er", meaning one who outfits, or supplies, people with equipment. The "-er" ending is old and widely shared. It arrived in English through several routes at once, which is why it appears in so many everyday nouns. "Outfit" itself is the more interesting half. Its basic sense is to equip someone with the gear needed for a task, and the verb has long been used for fitting out ships, soldiers, or travellers. The noun "outfit" later took on the sense of a set of clothes worn together, and from there a group of people working as a unit, as in a "business outfit." "Outfitters" is the plural, meaning shops or firms that sell or hire the clothing and gear needed for activities like hunting, fishing, and hiking. The term is a word for a trade rather than for a single item, so a shop's name, often "Outfitters," usually signals that it supplies everything needed for an outdoor expedition.

Synonyms: suppliers, vendors, providers, dealers, merchants