Fit
/fɪt/noun
In modern English, to be the right size, shape, or condition; also to be physically suitable or healthy.
Did you know?The history of English fit is messy: the verb and adjective developed through different Old English and later dialect forms, and the word’s modern sense of being “suitable” grew alongside older ideas of quickness, readiness, and strength.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peig- / *peik-
“to fasten, fix, or make firm”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*fetaną / *fitiz-
“to make fit, fasten, or set in place”
Old English
OE
fitt
“a fit, struggle, or period; also a strain or effort in some early uses”
Middle English
ME
fitten / fit
“to suit, adjust, or be appropriate”
Modern English
English
fit
“to be suitable, well-matched, or in good physical condition”