Speedos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of tight-fitting swimwear worn primarily by men for aquatic activities or competitive swimming, typically made of stretchy material
2. Swim trunks characterized by a minimal design that often features a low-rise cut, allowing for ease of movement in water
3. Brief swimwear designed to provide comfort and support while reducing drag in water during swimming or beach activities

Etymology: The word is a genericized trademark. It comes from Speedo, the name of the Australian swimwear company, and that name became the common term for the close-fitting briefs it sold. "Speedos" with the final s is the plural form that people use for a pair of these garments, so the trademark's own spelling has carried over into everyday speech unchanged. The company's name itself was chosen to suggest swiftness in the water, a sensible pick for a brand selling swimwear meant to reduce drag. Over time, as the product became widely associated with competitive swimmers and beachgoers, the brand name stopped pointing only to one manufacturer and came to stand for the whole category of garment, much as "hoover" once did for vacuum cleaners.

Synonyms: swimwear, bathing suits