Etymology dictionary

ostentatious (adj.) — outlier (n.)

ostentatious (adj.)

1701, "characterized by display or show from vanity or pride;" 1713, "showy, gaudy, intended for vain display," from ostentation + -ous. Earlier in a similar sense were ostentative (c. 1600); ostentive (1590s); ostentous (1620s). Related: Ostentatiously; ostentatiousness (1650s).

osteo-

before vowels oste-, word-forming element meaning "bone, bones," from Greek osteon "bone," from PIE root *ost- "bone."

osteology (n.)

"the branch of anatomy which treats of the bones," 1660s, from French ostèologie, from Modern Latin osteologia, from Greek osteon "bone" (from PIE root *ost- "bone") + -logia (see -logy). Related: Osteologist; osteological.

osteopath (n.)

"one who practices osteopathy," by 1897, a back-formation from osteopathy.

osteopathy (n.)

1857, "disease of the bones," from Greek osteon "bone" (from PIE root *ost- "bone") + -pathy "disorder, disease," from Greek -patheia, combining form of pathos "suffering, disease, feeling" (from PIE root *kwent(h)- "to suffer"). As a system of treating ailments by the manipulation of bones, it dates from 1889.

osteoporosis (n.)

"morbid absorption of bone, so that it becomes abnormally porous," 1846, from osteo- "bone" + Greek poros "passage; pore; voyage" (see pore (n.)) + -osis. Related: Osteoporotic.

ostinato

in musical phrases, "recurring frequently, repeated," 1876, from Italian ostinato "obstinate, persistent," from Latin obstinatus "resolute, resolved, determined, inflexible, stubborn," past participle of obstinare "to persist" (see obstinate).

ostler (n.)

"stableman at an inn," late 14c., phonetic spelling of hostler (q.v.). Related: Ostleress.

Ostmark (n.)

name used in the West for the currency of the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany), 1948, from German Ost "east" (see east) + Mark, name of a unit of currency (see mark (n.2)).

ostomy (n.)

"surgical operation making a permanent opening in the body," 1957, abstracted from colostomy, etc.; ultimately from Modern Latin stoma "opening, orifice," from Greek stoma "mouth" (see stoma).

ostracism (n.)

1580s, the name of a legal political method among the ancient Athenians by which men deemed dangerous to the liberties of the people or embarrassing to the state were banished for 10 years by public vote, from French ostracisme (16c.), Modern Latin ostracismus, or directly from Greek ostrakismos, from ostrakizein "to ostracize," from ostrakon "tile, potsherd," from PIE *ost-r-, from root *ost- "bone," which also is the source of Greek osteon "bone," ostreion "oyster," and German Estrich "pavement" (which is from Medieval Latin astracus "pavement," ultimately from Greek ostrakon).

So called because the citizens each indicated the name of the man they wished banished by scratching it on a potsherd or tile. A similar practice in ancient Syracuse (with banishment for five years) was by writing names on olive leaves, and thus was called petalismos. In English, the word in the general sense of "expulsion, exclusion" (from society, etc.) is by early 17c.

ostracize (v.)

"exile by ostracism, banish by popular vote," also in a figurative sense, "to exclude from society or favor," 1640s, from Latinized form of Greek ostrakizein "to banish," literally "to banish by voting with potshards" (see ostracism). Related: Ostracization; ostracized; ostracizing.

ostracean (adj.)

"resembling an oyster," 1840, with -an + Latinized form of Greek ostrakios, from ostreion "oyster," from PIE *ost-r-, from root *ost- "bone." Related ostraceous (by 1834).

ostracise (v.)

chiefly British English spelling of ostracize (q.v.); for suffix, see -ize. Related: Ostracised; ostracising; ostracisation.

ostrich (n.)

"very large flightless bird inhabiting the sandy plains of Africa and Arabia," early 13c., also hostriche, estrich, ostrig, esterige, etc., from Old French ostruce "ostrich" (Modern French autruche) and Medieval Latin ostrica, ostrigius, all from Vulgar Latin avis struthio.

This is from Latin avis "bird" (from PIE root *awi- "bird") + Late Latin struthio "ostrich," from Greek strouthion "ostrich," from strouthos megale "big sparrow," the first word perhaps from PIE *trozdo- "thrush" (see thrush (n.1)).

The Greeks also knew the bird as strouthokamelos "camel-sparrow," for its long neck. Among its proverbial peculiarities are indiscriminate voracity (especially a habit of swallowing small bits of iron and stone to aid digestion), a supposed want of regard for its eggs (which are incubated partly by the heat of the sun), and a tendency to hide its head when pursued. Ostriches do put their heads in sand, but ostrich farmers say they do this in search of something to eat.

Hence expressions cruel as an ostrich (late 14c.); foolish as an ostrich (late 15c.). From the Vulgar Latin word also come Spanish avestruz, Italian struzzo, Old English struta, German Strausz, Dutch struis, Danish struds.

For generic use of "sparrow" for "bird," compare Spanish pájaro, Romanian pasăre "bird," from Latin passer "sparrow."

Ostrogoth (n.)

c. 1600 (Ostrogothes, plural, is attested from late 14c.), one of the "East Goths," the more easterly of the two great divisions of the Gothic tribe, who conquered Italy late 5c. and established, under Theodric, a kingdom there that lasted from 493 to 555 C.E., from Medieval Latin Ostrogothæ, from Germanic, perhaps literally "eastern Goths" from Proto-Germanic *austra- "east" (from PIE root *aus- (1) "to shine," on the notion of "toward sunrise"), but according to Klein's sources the first element might be literal: "shining" or "splendid." For second element, see Goth, and compare Visigoth. Related: Ostrogothic.

Oswald

masc. proper name, from Old English Osweald "god-power, god-ruler," from Old English os "god" (only in personal names), from PIE *ansu- "spirit" (see Oscar) + Old English (ge)weald "power."

Oswego

river and town in northern New York, possibly from Onondaga (Iroquoian) deyoshweege' "splitting waters."

otalgia (n.)

"pain in the ear," 1650s, from Greek otalgia "earache," from ous, aus (genitive otos) "ear" (see ear (n.1)) + algia "pain" (see -algia). Related: Otalgic.

other (adj., pron.)

Old English oþer "second, the second of two; additional, further" (adj.), also as a pronoun, "one of the two; a different person or thing from the one in view," from Proto-Germanic *anthera- (source also of Old Saxon athar, Old Frisian other, Old Norse annarr, Middle Dutch and Dutch ander, Old High German andar, German ander, Gothic anþar "second, other").

These are from PIE *an-tero- (source of Lithuanian antras, Old Prussian anters "other, second), which is perhaps a variant of *al-tero- "the other of two" (source of Latin alter), from root *al- "beyond" + adjectival comparative suffix *-tero-. Or the first element might be the pronoun *eno-, *ono- [Boutkan]. The Old English, Old Saxon, and Old Frisian forms show "a normal loss of n before fricatives" [Barnhart].

The sense of "second" was detached from this word in English (which now uses second (adj.), which is from Latin) and German (zweiter, from zwei "two") to avoid ambiguity. In Scandinavian, however, the second floor is still the "other" floor (Swedish andra, Danish anden). Also compare Old English oþergeara "next year."

As an adverb, "secondly" (late Old English); "otherwise" (c. 1200); "in addition" (mid-14c.).

The other woman "a woman with whom a man begins a love affair while he is already committed" is from 1855. The other day originally (late Old English) was "the next day;" later (c. 1300) "yesterday;" and now, loosely, "a day or two ago" (early 15c.). OED notes that the other place was euphemistic for Hell or "Oxford as regarded in Cambridge (and vice versa)." Phrase other half in reference to either the poor or the rich, is recorded from c. 1600.

others (n.)

"the remaining ones," Old English, plural of noun use of other (q.v.).

otherness (n.)

"state or quality of being other," 1580s, from other + -ness.

otherwise (adv.)

contracted from Old English phrase on oðre wisan "in the other manner" (see other + wise (n.)), which in Middle English became oþre wise, and mid-14c. oþerwise. As an adjective from c. 1400. Also in Middle English were otherwhere "elsewhere;" otherwhat "something else" (pron.).

otherworldly (adj.)

1854, "governed in this life by motives relating to consideration of an afterlife," from other + world + -ly (1). By 1873 as "of or pertaining to a world of imagination."

Otherworldliness is recorded from 1819. Phrase other world is from c. 1200 (oþre weorlde) as "afterlife, spirit-land, world to come;" c. 1300 as "world of idealism or fantasy, a state of existence different from normal," but otherworldliness seems to have been formed from worldliness. Leigh Hunt used it first in print, in "The Examiner" [Dec. 19, 1819], but a reported use of it by Coleridge, printed in Thomas Allsop's selections from Coleridge's letters and conversations (1836), which apparently cover the years 1818-22, was better-known thereafter, and the word is sometimes attributed to Coleridge:

Hunt, in his "Autobiography" (1850), writes:

otic (adj.)

"pertaining to the ear or organs of hearing,"1650s, from Latinized form of Greek otikos, from ous (genitive otos) "ear" (see ear (n.1)).

otiose (adj.)

1794, "unfruitful, futile," from Latin otiosus "having leisure or ease, unoccupied, idle, not busy" (source of French oiseux, Spanish ocioso, Italian otioso), from otium "leisure, free time, freedom from business," a word of unknown origin. Meaning "at leisure, idle" is recorded from 1850. Compare Latin phrase otium cum dignitate "leisure with dignity." Earlier adjective in English was otious "at ease" (1610s), and Middle English had noun otiosity (late 15c.).

ottava rima

form of versification, 1820, Italian, "eight-lined stanza," literally "eighth rhyme," from ottava "eighth" (see octave + rhyme (n.)). A stanza of eight 11-syllable lines, rhymed a b a b a b c c, but in the Byronic variety the lines are typically 10-syllable English heroics.

Ottawa

Canadian capital, founded 1827 as Bytown, named for English officer John By, who oversaw construction of the canal there; renamed 1854, when it became capital, for the Ottawa River, which took its name from the Algonquian people who lived in Michigan and Ontario. Their name is said to be from adawe "to trade."

otter (n.)

aquatic digitigrade carnivorous mammal, hunted for its fur, Middle English oter, from Old English otr, otor "otter," from Proto-Germanic *otraz "otter" (source also of Old Norse otr, Swedish utter, Danish odder, Dutch otter, Old High German ottar, German Otter), from PIE *udros, literally "water-creature" (source also of Sanskrit udrah, Avestan udra "otter;" Greek hydra "water-serpent," enydris "otter;" Latin lutra, Old Church Slavonic vydra, Lithuanian ūdra, Old Irish odoirne "otter"), from root *wed- (1) "water; wet." The sea otter, marine otter of the U.S. Pacific Northwest (distinguished from the land- or river-otter) is attested from 1660s, also known as sea-ape.

Otto

German given name and surname, from Old High German Odo, Udo, from Proto-Germanic *aud- "wealth, prosperity," corresponding to Old English ead (as in Edward, Edith, etc.). Related: Ottonian, in reference to the East Frankish dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire founded 962 by Otto I.

Ottoman

in reference to the branch of Turks which founded and ruled the Ottoman Empire, 1580s (n.), c. 1600 (adj.), from French Ottoman via Italian Ottomano, ultimately from Arabic 'Uthmani "of or belonging to 'Uthman," Arabic masc. proper name, which in Turkish is pronounced Othman (see Osmanli). The founder of the dynasty reigned 1259-1326. Because -i was a plural inflection in Italian, the ending of the word was altered by formation of a new false singular. Byron used the more correct form Othman (perhaps for the sake of metrics as well as accuracy), and a few writers have followed him.

The type of couch or cushioned seat without back or arms (used in drawing-rooms and sitting-rooms) was so called by 1806, because one reclines on it, which was associated with Eastern customs (see couch (n.1)). By 1849 the word was extended to a small version of this used as a footstool or low seat.

-ous

word-forming element making adjectives from nouns, meaning "having, full of, having to do with, doing, inclined to," from Old French -ous, -eux, from Latin -osus (compare -ose (1)). In chemistry, "having a lower valence than forms expressed in -ic."

oubliette (n.)

"secret dungeon reached only via trapdoor and with an opening only at the top for admission of air," 1780, originally in a French context, from French oubliette (14c.), from oublier "to forget, show negligence" (Old French oblier, oblider), from Vulgar Latin *oblitare, from Latin oblitus, past participle of oblivisci "to forget" (see oblivion). Used for persons condemned to perpetual imprisonment or to perish secretly.

ouch (interj.)

exclamation expressing pain, 1837, from Pennsylvania German outch, cry of pain, from German autsch. The Japanese word is itai. Latin used au, hau.

oud (n.)

"lute or mandolin of Arab lands," 1738, from Arabic 'ud, literally "wood." Compare lute.

ought (v.)

Old English ahte "owned, possessed," past tense of agan "to own, possess; owe" (see owe). As a past tense of owe, it shared in that word's evolution and meant at times in Middle English "possessed" and "under obligation to pay." It has been detached from owe since 17c., though he aught me ten pounds is recorded as active in East Anglian dialect c. 1825. As an auxiliary verb expressing duty or moral obligation (the main modern use, attested from late 12c.), it represents the past subjunctive.

ought (n.)

"zero, cipher," 1844, probably a misdivision of a nought (see nought; for misdivision, see N); the meaning probably was influenced by aught "anything."

oui

Modern French for "yes," from Old French oïl "yes," at first two words meaning "yes, he," or "yes, they," which gradually came to mean simply "yes." From the Latin phrase hoc ille "yes," literally "this he, so he" (did or said).

Thus the o is from Latin hoc "this," and the rest of the word is from the Latin personal pronoun ille "he" (in Vulgar Latin illi which is also "they"). Old French also had o alone as "yes." Compare Languedoc.

Ouija

1891, a trademark name (originally by Kennard Novelty Co., Baltimore, Md.) for a "talking board" with a planchette, used to record spiritual messages, etc.; the name is compounded from French oui and German ja, both meaning "yes."

ounce (n.1)

unit of weight, the twelfth part of a pound, early 14c., from Old French once, unce, a measure of weight or time (12c.), from Latin uncia "one-twelfth part" (of a pound, a foot, etc.), from Latin unus "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique"). The Latin word had been adopted in Old English as ynce (see inch).

It was one-twelfth of a pound in the Troy system of weights, but one-sixteenth in avoirdupois. Abbreviation oz. is from older Italian onza. It was used loosely from late 14c. for "a small quantity." Also used in Middle English as a measure of time (7.5 seconds) and length (about 3 inches). In figurative expressions and proverbs, an ounce of X is compared or contrasted with a pound of Y from 1520s.

ounce (n.2)

"wildcat," c. 1300, from Old French once "lynx" (13c.), from lonce, with l- mistaken as definite article, from Vulgar Latin *luncea, from Latin lyncea "lynx-like," from lynx (see lynx). Originally the common lynx, later extended to other large, spotted wildcats, now mainly used of the mountain-panther or snow leopard of Asia.

-our

see -or.

ours (pron.)

"that or those belonging to us," c. 1300, oures, a double possessive (with genitive suffix -s (1)), originating in northern England, it has taken over the absolute function of our (q.v.). In Middle English ourn, ouren also were used.

our (pron.)

Old English ure "of us, pertaining to or belonging to us," genitive plural of the first person pronoun, from Proto-Germanic *ons (source also of Old Saxon usa, Old Frisian use, Old High German unsar, German unser, Gothic unsar "our"), from PIE *nes-, oblique case of personal pronoun in first person plural (source of Latin nos "we," noster "our"). Also compare ours.

Ourselves (late 15c.) "we or us, not others," modeled on yourselves, replaced original construction we selfe, us selfum, etc. It often is added to we for emphasis.

oust (v.)

early 15c., ousten, "eject, dispossess," from Anglo-French oster, ouster (early 14c.), Old French oster "remove, take away, take off; evict, dispel; liberate, release" (Modern French ôter), from Latin obstare "stand before, be opposite, stand opposite to, block," in Vulgar Latin, "hinder," from ob "against" (see ob-) + stare "to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm." Related: Ousted; ousting.

ouster (n.)

in law, "ejection from property, eviction by judicial process," 1530s, noun use of Anglo-French ouster "remove, evict" (see oust). For other such usages, see waiver. General sense of "dismissal, expulsion" is by 1961.

outing (n.)

late 14c., "action of going out, an issuing forth;" mid-15c., "act of putting or driving out, expulsion, ejection;" verbal noun from out (v.). Original senses are now obsolete. The meaning "an excursion, a pleasure-trip" is from 1821.

out (adj.)

late Old English, "outer," from out (adv.). From mid-13c. as "that is or lies on the outside, exterior." Of a light or candle, "extinguished, no longer burning," c. 1300. Sense of "no longer secret" is by 1713. Sense in baseball (1860) was earlier in cricket (1746). Meaning "unconscious" is attested from 1898, originally in boxing from the notion of "defeated ('out') by failing to rise within a 10-count." To be out on one's feet is from 1952. From 1966 as "unfashionable, not stylish, popular, or modern."

out (v.)

Old English utian "expel, put out," from the source of out (adv.). It has been used in many specific senses over the years; the meaning "disclose to public view, reveal, make known" is by mid-14c.

Meaning "to expose as a closet homosexual" is first by 1990 (as an adjective meaning "openly avowing one's homosexuality" it dates from 1970s; see closet). To come out "declare oneself publicly as homosexual" is from 1968 and probably short for come out of the closet. Related: Outed; outing. Compare outen.

outness (n.)

"state of being beyond or external, separateness," 1709, from out (adv.) + -ness.

out-

in Old English a common prefix with nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs, "out, outward, outer; forth, away," from out (adv.). The use was even more common in Middle English, and also with the senses "outer, outside, on the outside, from without, external, externally; apart; greatly, extremely; completely, thoroughly, to completion." Other senses of out that extended into the use as a prefix include "beyond the surface or limits; to the utmost degree; to an explicit resolution."

out (adv.)

expressing motion or direction from within or from a central point, also removal from proper place or position, Old English ut "out, without, outside," from Proto-Germanic *ūt- (Old Norse, Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Gothic ut, Middle Dutch uut, Dutch uit, Old High German uz, German aus), from PIE root *uidh- "up, out, up away, on high" (source also of Sanskrit ut "up, out," uttarah "higher, upper, later, northern;" Avestan uz- "up, out," Old Irish ud- "out," Latin usque "all the way to, continuously, without interruption," Greek hysteros "the latter," Russian vy- "out").

Sense of "to a full end, completely, to a conclusion or finish" is from c. 1300. Meaning "so as to be no longer burning or alight; into darkness" is from c. 1400. Of position or situation, "beyond the bounds of, not within," early 15c. Meaning "into public notice" is from 1540s; that of "away from one's place of residence," c. 1600. The political sense of "not in office, removed or ejected from a position" is from c. 1600. Meaning "come into sight, become visible" (of stars, etc.) is by 1610s. In radio communication, a word indicating that the speaker has finished speaking, by 1950.

As a preposition, "out of; from, away from; outside of, beyond; except; without, lacking;" mid-13c., from the adverb.

Meaning "from harmonious relations, into quarreling" (as in to fall out) is from 1520s. Meaning "from one's normal state of mind" (as in put out) is from 1580s; out to lunch "insane" is student slang from 1955. Adjectival phrase out-of-the-way "remote, secluded" is attested from late 15c. Out-of-towner "one not from a certain place" is from 1911. Out of this world "excellent" is from 1938; out of sight "excellent, superior" is from 1891. To (verb) it out "bring to a finish" is from 1580s. Expression from here on out "henceforward" is by 1942. Out upon, expressing abhorrence or reproach, is from early 15c.

out (n.)

late 15c., "egress," from out (adj). From 1620s, "a being out" (of something), from out (adv.). From 1764 in politics as "the party which is out of office." From 1860 in the baseball sense "act of getting an opposing player out of active play." From 1919 as "means of escape; alibi."

outage (n.)

"period or condition in which electrical power is disconnected," 1903, American English; formed from out on model of shortage.

out-and-out

c. 1300 as an adverbial phrase, "completely, thoroughly, to the utmost degree," from out (adv.). Adjective usage is attested by 1813.

outback (n.)

"back-country, interior regions of Australia," 1907, Out Back, Australian English, originally an adverb, "out in the back settlements" (1878), from out (adv.) + back (adv.).

outbid (v.)

also out-bid, 1580s, "offer a higher price than," from out- + bid (v.). Related: Out-bidding; out-bidden. Middle English had utbidden "to summon (warriors), muster (an army," c. 1300, on the notion of "call out."

outboard (adj.)

also out-board, "situated on the outside of a ship," 1823, from out- + board (n.2). In reference to motors, from 1909.

outbound (adj.)

"outward bound," 1590s, from out- + bound (adj.2).

outbreak (n.)

"eruption, a sudden and violent manifestation" (of disease, hostilities, etc.), c. 1600, from the verbal phrase; see out (adv.) + break (v.). Outbreak (v.) "to break out, escape confinement" (c. 1300) was still in poetic use in 19c.

outbuilding (n.)

also out-building, "a detached or subordinate building," 1620s, from out- + building (n.).

outburst (n.)

"a breaking or bursting out, a violent issue," 1650s, from the verbal phrase; see out (adv.) + burst (v.). Outbresten was a verb in Middle English (mid-12c.), from Old English utaberstan. Carlyle (1837) apparently coined inburst (n.) to be its opposite.

outcast (n.)

mid-14c., "an exile, a pariah, a person cast out or rejected," literally "that which is cast out," noun use of past participle of Middle English outcasten "to throw out or expel, reject," from out (adv.) + casten "to cast" (see cast (v.)). The adjective is attested from late 14c., "abject, socially despised." The verbal phrase cast out "discard, reject" is from c. 1200. In an Indian context, outcaste "one who has been expelled from his caste" is from 1876; see caste.

outclass (v.)

1870, originally in sports, "to beat (a rival) so completely as to put him out of the same class," from out- + class (n.).

outcome (n.)

1788, "that which results from something," originally Scottish, from the verbal phrase; see out (adv.) + come (v.). Popularized in English by Carlyle (c. 1830s). It was used in Middle English in sense of "an emergence, act or fact of coming out" (c. 1200), and the gerund, outcoming, was used as "an issue, a result." Old English had utancumen (n.) "stranger, foreigner."

outcry (n.)

mid-14c., "act of crying aloud, a loud or vehement clamor," especially of indignation or distress, from out (adv.) + cry (v.). In metaphoric sense of "public protest," it is attested by 1911 in George Bernard Shaw.

outcrop (n.)

in geology, "exposure of rocks at the surface," 1801, from out- + crop (n.) in its sense of "sprout, head."

outdated (adj.)

also out-dated, "grown obsolete," 1590s, from out- + past participle of date (v.1). Out-of-date is attested from 1610s. The verb, out-date "make obsolete" is by 1640s, perhaps 1590s.

outdistance (v.)

"to leave completely behind," 1857, from out- + distance. Related: Outdistanced; outdistancing.

outdo (v.)

also out-do, "exceed, surpass, perform beyond," c. 1600, from out- + do (v.). Related: Outdone, outdoing.

outdoor (adj.)

"that is done or used in the open air, not in the house," 1748, from out- + door. Out-of-door is from c. 1800.

outdoors (adv.)

"in the open air, out of the house," 1817, from outdoor + adverbial genitive -s. As a noun, "open spaces," it is recorded from 1857; the great outdoors is recorded by 1932. Out a doors (adv.) is from 1520s.

outdoorsman (n.)

"one who enjoys outdoors activities," 1924, American English, from outdoors + man (n.).

outen (v.)

"put out, extinguish," especially in outen the light, 1916, American English dialectal; see out (adv.) + -en (1). An idiom in Pennsylvania German. In English, out (v.) "to put out" is attested from c. 1500.

outer (adj.)

"that is farther out, that is exterior or external; of or pertaining to the outside; further removed," late 14c., comparative of out (on analogy of inner), replacing by 18c. forms descended from Old English uttera (comparative of Old English ut "out") which developed into utter (adj.) and was no longer felt as connected with out. Outer space "region beyond the earth's atmosphere" is attested from 1845.

outermost (adj.)

"situated farthest from the inside or center, being on the extreme external part," 1580s, from outer + -most. Middle English had outermore.

outerwear (n.)

"clothing designed to be worn outside other garments," 1921, from outer (adj.) + wear (n.), probably based on underwear.

outface (v.)

1520s, "to confront boldly, stare down and shame;" 1570s, "confront fearlessly," from out- + face (v.). Related: Outfaced; outfacing.

outfield (n.)

1630s, "outlying land of a farm" (especially in Scotland), from out- + field (n.); sporting sense is attested from 1851 in cricket, 1868 in baseball, "part of the field most remote from the batsman/batter." Related: Outfielder.

outfit (n.)

1769, "act of fitting out (a ship, etc.) for an expedition," from out- + fit (v.). The sense of "articles and equipment required for an expedition" is attested from 1787, American English, hence the extended senses. The meaning "a person's clothes" is recorded by 1852; the sense of "group of people" from 1883.

outfit (v.)

"to provide or supply, to fit out," by 1772, from outfit (n.). Related: Outfitted; outfitting; outfitter.

outflank (v.)

1765, "to extend or get beyond the flank" (of an opposing army), from out- + flank (v.). Figurative use, get the better of, outmaneuver," is from 1773. Related: Outflanked; outflanking.

outflow (n.)

1869, "act or fact of flowing out, a flowing out or forth;" 1875, "that which flows out," from out- + flow (n.).

outfox (v.)

"outwit, outdo in deception or cunning," 1939, from out- + fox. Related: Outfoxed; outfoxing.

outgoing (adj.)

1630s, "that goes out," from out (adv.) + going. Meaning "sociable, friendly," is attested from 1950, on same notion as that expressed in extrovert (literally one who is "out-turning"). Middle English had a noun outgoing "a departure," mid-14c., from a verb outgo "to go forth," and Old English had utgangende "outgoing" (literal). Related: Outgoingness.

outgrow (v.)

1590s, "to surpass in growth, grow taller than," from out- + grow (v.). In reference to clothing, etc., "to grow too large for, grow beyond the limits of," by 1690s. The figurative meaning "to become too large or too mature for, leave behind or lose in the process of growth or development" is attested from 1660s. Related: Outgrowing; outgrown.

outgrowth (n.)

"that which grows from or out of anything," especially an excrescence from the surface of a plant, 1801, from out- + growth. The figurative sense, in reference to inanimate things, "a development or result from a cause or beginning or from some earlier state" is by 1828.

outgun (v.)

"to surpass in guns, have more firepower than," 1690s, from out- + gun. Related: Outgunned; outgunning.

out-herod (v.)

"exceed in any excess of evil," from Shakespeare's it out-Herods Herod in Hamlet's instruction to the players in "Hamlet" Act III, Scene II. Shakespeare used the same construction elsewhere ("All's Well that Ends Well" has out-villain'd villany). The phrase reflects the image of Herod as stock braggart and bully in old religious drama. The form of the phrase was widely imitated 19c. and extended to any excessive behavior.

outhouse (n.)

early 14c., "shed, outbuilding, small house or building separate from the main house," from out- + house (n.). Sense of "a privy" (principally American English) is attested by 1819.

outie (n.)

in reference to navels, by 1972, from out (adv.) + -ie.

outlay (n.)

"act or fact of laying out (especially money) or expending; that which is laid out or expended," 1798, originally Scottish, from out- + lay (v.).

outlander (n.)

1590s, "a foreigner, a person who is not a native," from outland "foreign land" (see outlandish) + -er (1). Probably on model of Dutch uitlander, German ausländer. In South African English it had a specific sense of "not of Boer birth" (1892) and was a loan-translation of South African Dutch uitlander. Old English utlanda meant "an exile." Middle English sometimes used simply outland for "foreigners," or straungeres outlondes.

outlandish (adj.)

Old English utlendisc "of a foreign country, not native," from utland "foreign land," literally "outland" (see out- + land (n.)) + -ish. The original sense is archaic or obsolete. The meaning "unfamiliar, strange, odd, uncouth, bizarre" (such as the customs of foreigners may seem to natives) is attested from 1590s. Compare German ausländisch, Danish udenlandsk, etc. Old English utland also could mean "land lying beyond the limits of occupation or cultivation," a sense that survived into Modern English. Related: Outlandishly; outlandishness.

outlast (v.)

"to last longer than, exceed in duration," 1570s, from out- + last (v.). Related: Outlasted; outlasting.

outlaw (n.)

Old English utlaga "one put outside the law" (and thereby deprived of its benefits and protections), from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse utlagi (n.) "outlaw," from utlagr (adj.) "outlawed, banished," from ut "out" (see out (adv.)) + *lagu, plural of lag "law" (see law). Formerly it was lawful for anyone to kill such a person.

Meaning "disorderly person living in defiant violation of the law, one living a lawless life" is recorded by 1880. As an adjective, from Old English.

outlaw (v.)

Old English utlagian "to banish, proscribe, declare an outlaw; to deprive (someone) of the benefits and protections of the law," from utlaga "an outlaw" (see outlaw (n.)). Related: Outlawed; outlawing.

outlawry (n.)

late 14c., "action of putting a person outside the protection of the law by legal means," from Anglo-French utlagerie, a hybrid from Old English utlaga (see outlaw (n.)) + -ary. Meaning "defiance of the law" is by 1869.

outlet (n.)

"place or opening by which anything is let out or escapes," mid-13c., "a river mouth," from out- + let (v.). Electrical wiring sense, "socket that connects a device to an electricity supply," is attested from 1892. The commercial sense of "a market for the sale of any product" is by 1889; that of "a retail store disposing of a manufacturer's products" is attested by 1933. Figurative sense "means of relief or discharge" is from 1620s.

outlying (adj.)

"outside certain limits, lying beyond the boundary," 1660s, from out- + present participle of lie (v.2). Meaning "remote from the center, lying at a distance from the main body" is attested by 1680s.

outlier (n.)

c. 1600, "stone quarried and removed but left unused," from out- + agent noun from lie (v.2). Transferred meaning "outsider" (in reference to persons) is recorded from 1680s, especially "one who does not reside in the place of his office or duties;" the sense of "anything detached from its main body" is from 1849; the geological sense is from 1833.