Bikini

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /bᵻˈkiːni/

Origin

From French bikini, named after the place name Bikini, from English Bikini, the name of the atoll where the United States tested nuclear weapons in July 1946; it was reckoned that the bathing suit would cause as much excitement as a nuclear bomb. This name was originally from German Bikini, the colonial name of the atoll as part of German New Guinea, and this was derived from Marshallese Pikinni.

Full definition of bikini

Noun

1. A brief two-piece bathing suit worn by women.
• 1950, "In the Swim", Time, 2 Oct 1950:Cole has little but scorn for France's famed Bikini bathing suits. Explains he: " French girls, have short legs. Swimsuits have to be hiked up at the sides to make their legs look longer. "

Related terms

• Bikini
• bikini bottom
• bikini line
• bikini wax
• mankini
• monokini
• tankini
• trikini