Outfit
In Southern and Appalachian speech, outfit means a group, organization, or company - anything from a family crew to a big corporation. The word carries a practical, no-nonsense tone used for operations large or small.
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I've heard and used 'outfit' this way all my life, it's common around here. Just like in O, Brother - "Who elected you leader of this outfit?" I've heard and used 'outfit' this way all my life, it's common around here. Just like in O, Brother - "Who elected you leader of this outfit?" Pronunciation
/ˈaʊt.fɪt/
Meaning & Usage
- A group, organization, or operation (noun)
That outfit down at Miller’s Garage don’t know which end’s up.You hush - they fixed your truck last time, didn’t they?Pepsi owns Taco Bell - that’s a big outfit if there ever was one.Origin and Etymology
Originally an 18th-century English term for the equipment or supplies needed for a journey or job, "outfit" broadened in 19th-century American English to include the people and organization behind that gear. The sense flourished on the frontier, in logging camps, and on Southern farms, then naturally extended to businesses of all sizes.
Usage Notes
In Southern and Appalachian English, "outfit" describes any organized group - a work crew, a family business, or a large corporation. Its meaning depends on context but always carries a plainspoken familiarity. Even when used for major companies, it keeps its homegrown flavor.