diaper

diaper · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
2. Proto-Indo-European*trísinflu.
3. Proto-Indo-European*dwís
4. Ancient Greekδιά (diá)
5. Ancient Greekδια- (dia-)
6. Proto-Indo-European*h₂esp-der.?
7. Latinasper
8. Ancient Greekἄσπρος (áspros)
9. Medieval Greekδίασπρος (díaspros)
10. Medieval Latindiaspra
11. Old Frenchdyapre
12. Middle Englishdyaper
13. English todaydiaper

From Middle English dyaper, diapre, dyapre, from Old French diapre, dyapre, a variant of dyaspre, diaspre (“ornamental silk cloth embellished with decorative patterns”), from Medieval Latin diaspra, diasprum (“a type of rich, valuable silken cloth”), probably from Medieval Greek δίασπρος (díaspros, “very white; pure white”, adjective), from δια- (dia-, “across”) + ἄσπρος (áspros, “white”).

Diaper · proper noun²

A variant of the surnames Dipper and Dyper. Unrelated to diaper.

First known use, by meaning

• from 1810 An absorbent garment worn around the crotch that retains the wearer's urine and feces, often worn by a baby or young child who is not yet toilet trained, by an adult who is incontinent (who wets the bed), or under extreme working conditions without access to a toilet; a nappy.
• from 1868 A container that absorbs and collects (retains) liquid or waste material, similar to a diaper (noun sense 1).
• from c. 1330 A textile fabric having a repeating pattern, especially of diamonds or flowers, formed by alternating directions of thread.
• from 1783 A repeating geometrical or (often stylized) floral pattern, usually of small diamonds evenly spaced, that decorates a flat surface, sometimes in bas-relief; diaperwork.
• from 1610 A repeating geometrical or floral pattern, used to cover the surface of a shield and forming the ground for any charges.
• c. 1592–1939 A towel, napkin, or tablecloth made from the diaper fabric (noun sense 4).