Etymology Map
Back to all words

Leotard

2 stages from French to English.

Today it means a close-fitting one-piece garment worn by dancers and gymnasts

Where does the word "leotard" come from? It comes from French Léotard, adopted directly into English (1920s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
Léotard
French · 1859
"a family name"
Jules Léotard, a gymnast from Toulouse, performed the first flying-trapeze act at the Cirque Napoléon in Paris on 12 November 1859, wearing a one-piece knitted costume
2
Stage 2 of 2
leotard
English · 1920s
"tight one-piece garment"
the 1867 music-hall song 'The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze' was about him; his name for the garment is recorded in English from the 1920s
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Leotard’s story begins in French: Léotard meant “a family name.” Jules Léotard, a gymnast from Toulouse, performed the first flying-trapeze act at the Cirque Napoléon in Paris on 12 November 1859, wearing a one-piece knitted costume. It reached English by 1920s as leotard. The 1867 music-hall song 'The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze' was about him; his name for the garment is recorded in English from the 1920s. Today, leotard means a close-fitting one-piece garment worn by dancers and gymnasts.