Diaper
/ˈdaɪ.ə.pər/noun
A cloth or disposable garment worn by babies to absorb urine and feces, or a decorative pattern of repeated small figures.
Did you know?The word originally referred to a rich, diamond-patterned cloth in medieval Europe, and only much later in American English did it become the name for baby nappies.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GR
diáspros
“bright white, very white”
Medieval Latin
ML
diasprus
“a white or richly patterned cloth”
Old French
OF
diapre
“a patterned fabric, often with repeated designs”
Middle English
EN
diaper
“a decorative cloth with a small repeating pattern”
17th Century
EN
diaper
“a patterned textile, especially one woven with a diamond design”
19th Century
EN
diaper
“a cloth or garment used to catch a baby's waste”