speedo
speedo Lexical Profile
speedo Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A pair of tight-fitting, brief-style swimming trunks worn by men, especially for competitive swimming (often capitalized as a trademark).
"The Olympic diver adjusted his speedo before stepping onto the edge of the high platform."
An informal term for a speedometer, the instrument on a vehicle's dashboard that indicates its speed.
"He glanced down at the speedo to make sure he was staying below the highway speed limit."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to tight-fitting men's swim briefs, 'Speedo' is a genericized trademark originally capitalized as a brand name; in American English it is typically used in the singular ('a Speedo'), whereas in British and Australian English it is often used in the plural ('Speedos').
• Rhymes for speedo
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
In its automotive sense, it is an informal shortening of 'speedometer' with the colloquial suffix '-o'. The swimwear sense derives from the trademark Speedo, coined in 1928 in Australia by Alexander MacRae from the slogan 'Speed on in your Speedos'.