Derrière
/ˌdɛriˈɛər/noun
A polite or humorous term for a person’s buttocks.
Did you know?English borrowed derrière from French as a refined euphemism, preserving the French accent while turning an ordinary body part into a fashionable expression.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
dē retrō
“from behind; from the rear”
9th–10th Century
Old French
derrière
“behind; at the back”
12th–13th Century
Old French
derriere
“the rear or back part”
18th Century
French
derrière
“the buttocks, used as a polite euphemism”
18th Century
English
derrière
“a person’s buttocks, borrowed from French”
Modern English
English
derrière
“a humorous, polite, or elegant term for the buttocks”
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