NYT Dictionary

TAILOR

/ˈteɪlɚ/
NounVerbTAI-lortai-lor · 2 syllablesGrade 12

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2023, 2025

Meaning

A person who makes, repairs, or alters clothes professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Latin tālea Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Late Latin tāliō Old French taillierder. Old French tailleorder. Anglo-Norman taillourbor. Middle English taillour English tailor Inherited from Middle English taillour, from Anglo-Norman taillour, from Old French tailleor, from taillier, from Late Latin tāliō, from Latin tālea (“a cutting”). Doublet of tailleur. Compare typologically German Schneider (akin to English snithe); Macedonian кројач (krojač), Polish krawiec (akin to Proto-Slavic *krojiti).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

needleworkertailorerbluefishfitshapeseamstersartororientcutsew

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

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