kit

Signification

1. A circular wooden vessel, made of hooped staves.
2. A kind of basket made especially from straw of rushes, especially for holding fish; by extension, the contents of such a basket or similar container, used as a measure of weight.
3. A collection of items forming the equipment of a soldier, carried in a knapsack.
4. Any collection of items needed for a specific purpose, especially for use by a workman, or personal effects packed for travelling.
5. A collection of parts sold for the buyer to assemble.
6. The standard set of clothing, accessories and equipment worn by players.
7. (informal) Clothing.
8. (informal) A full software distribution, as opposed to a patch or upgrade.
9. The set of skills and abilities chosen for a playable character.
10. A drum kit.
11. The whole set; kit and caboodle.

Fréquence

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/kɪt/

Étymologie

From Middle English kyt, kytt, kytte, from Middle Dutch kitte (“a wooden vessel made of hooped staves”). Related to Dutch kit (“tankard”) (see below). The further etymology is unknown. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *kitjō-, *kut-, which would be related to the root of Dutch kot (“ramshackle house”), itself of non-Indo-European origin. The transfer of meaning to the contents of a soldier's knapsack dates to the late 18th century, extended use of any collection of necessaries used for travelling dates to the first half of the 19th century. The further widening of the sense to a collection of parts sold for the buyer to assemble emerges in US English in the mid 20th century.