Suntan

/ˈsʌntæn/ noun, verb

Definition

Brown or golden coloring of the skin from exposure to the sun, or to get that colored skin from being in the sun.

Etymology

A compound of 'sun' (from Proto-Indo-European roots) and 'tan' (from the color of tanned leather, ultimately from the plant used in tanning). Combined in the early 20th century as a beauty trend spread.

Kelly Says

Before the 1920s, pale skin meant you were wealthy and didn't work outdoors—but when Coco Chanel got a tan, suddenly tanned skin meant leisure and exotic travel, completely flipping what 'beauty' meant in just one generation.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.