The term "lingerie" originates from the French word "lingerie" which means "linen goods" and was used to refer to "linen underwear, especially as made for women". The French term itself is derived from "linger", a dealer in linen goods, which comes from Old French "linge" meaning "linen". This, in turn, is from Latin "lineus" (of linen) and "linum" (flax, linen).
The term "underwear" is a combination of "under" and "wear", and it was first used in 1872 to refer to "undergarments" because they are worn under one's clothing.
The term "brassiere", used to refer to a form-fitting undergarment to support a woman's breasts, was first used in 1902. It is a euphemistic borrowing from the French word "brassière", which originally meant "child's chemise; shoulder strap". The French term comes from Old French "braciere" meaning "arm guard", which is derived from "bras" meaning "an arm".
The term "panties", used to refer to underpants for women or girls, was first recorded in 1908. The term is a diminutive of "pants", which was used to refer to "trousers, drawers" in 1840.
The term "undergarment" is used to refer to any garment worn underneath others, especially one worn next to the skin. The term combines "under" and "garment", expressing the position of these clothes with reference to those worn above.
