Bikini etymology uncovered

[Benjamin Zimmer]

Boyan Nikolaev's cross-posted query a few months ago about the etymology
of "Bikini" has finally been answered by Bob Kennedy on his linguistics
blog: <http://biloklok.blogspot.com/2005/04/bi-in-bikini.html>.

Latinate _bi-_ doesn't have anything to do with it, unsurprisingly.  The
Marshallese toponym _Pikinni_ [pikinniy] is composed of _pik_ 'surface' +
_ni_ 'coconut'.

(Via the Language Hat and Literal-Minded blogs.)


--Ben Zimmer


On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 12:44:00 -0500, Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU>
wrote:

>For all you etymologists and antedaters, here's a cross-post from
>Linguist List along with my response to the author.  I'm sure he will
>welcome any of you jumping in; my answer was off the top of my head
>and doesn't involve any actual cites on the reanalysis underlying
>"monokini" or the earliest application of the eponymous bikini
>bathing suit.  And I certainly have no clue on whether "Bikini" for
>the atoll has any internal structure in Marshallese.  Barry--worth a
>visit?  The climate's probably nice, although lead clothing might be
>de rigueur.  Responses should be sent to Mr. Nikolaev as well as
>posted on the list
>
>Larry
>
>
>--- begin forwarded text
>
>Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 12:38:21 -0500
>To: Boyan Nikolaev <boyannikolaev at yahoo.com>
>From: Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at yale.edu>
>Subject: Etymology of 'Bikini Atoll'
>
>In reference to your query below:
>
>I've always assumed that "monokini" did *not* result from a naive
>folk etymology but rather from a
>disingenuous but clever pun by some journalistic wag.  And of course
>the other part of the story is the transfer involved in the use of
>"bikini".  The bathing suit is so-called not because it was worn on
>the atoll, but because the supposed effect of a woman (or, in those
>years, a "girl") in a bikini was supposed to be akin to the effect of
>an atomic bomb.  The Bikini atoll was primarily known at the time for
>hosting (involuntarily, I assume) atomic bomb tests.
>
>I don't know where the atoll got its name, i.e. what the proper name
>Bikini means.  Of course many philosophers have argued that proper
>names don't have meanings, but usually we can track some reason for
>their application or some internal structure to the name, but I don't
>know any Marshallese.
>
>Larry Horn
><laurence.horn at yale.edu>
>
>--- begin forwarded text
>LINGUIST List: Vol-15-3550. Tue Dec 21 2004. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.
>
>Subject: 15.3550, Qs: Etymology of 'Bikini Atoll'; Vowel Length
>
>Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 12:11:41
>From: Boyan Nikolaev < boyannikolaev at yahoo.com >
>Subject: Etymology of 'Bikini Atoll'
>
>
>I am working on an article about neologisms.
>
>The word BIKINI, I think, was misinterpreted in 1946 as being Latin and
>consisting of bi- (=two) + something unclear. So, in time it dropped its
>bi- and became MONOKINI, even TANKKINI.
>
>Could anyone tell me what the real Polynesian (Marshallese) word means and
>help me explain it not considering the Latin bi-?
>
>Best,
>Boyan Nikolaev
>
>Linguistic Field(s): Lexicography
>
>--- end forwarded text
>
>--- end forwarded text