Bikini etymology uncovered

[Laurence Horn]

At 11:28 PM -0400 5/6/05, Benjamin Zimmer wrote:
>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.)
>

Later reanalyzed as referring to a pair of coconuts, whence the
reconstruction with the Latin prefix...

(no, I have no shame atoll)

L

>
>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