puttee

Where does the word "puttee" come from? It comes from Sanskrit pattika, passing through Hindi before entering English (1875).

Puttee’s story begins in Sanskrit: pattika meant “a strip or band of cloth.” Meant 'a strip of cloth'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as patti. The everyday word for a bandage or strip of cloth. It reached English by 1875 as puttee. British soldiers adopted the word for a cloth strip wound around the leg. Today, puttee means a long strip of cloth wound spirally around the leg from ankle to knee, historically worn by soldiers and hikers.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient pattika "a strip or band of cloth", meant 'a strip of cloth'.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval patti "a band, bandage, or strip", the everyday word for a bandage or strip of cloth.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1875 puttee "a long strip of cloth wound around the leg for support", British soldiers adopted the word for a cloth strip wound around the leg.