Tutu
/ˈtuːtuː/noun
A short, stiff skirt made of layers of net or tulle, worn especially by ballet dancers.
Did you know?The French word tutu appeared in the nineteenth century and is generally linked to child language for the buttocks, although the exact origin remains uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
French
tutu
“A child-language or colloquial term associated with the buttocks; later, the name of a ballet costume.”
1881
French
tutu
“Documented in connection with the short, stiff skirt worn by ballet dancers.”
Late 19th Century
English
tutu
“Borrowed from French for a ballet dancer’s net skirt.”
Modern English
English
tutu
“A short, layered skirt worn in ballet and sometimes in dance or costume contexts.”