*syu-

also accoutre, "to dress or equip" (especially in military clothing and gear), 1590s, from French acoutrer, earlier acostrer (13c.) "arrange, dispose, put on (clothing)," probably originally "sew up," from Vulgar Latin *accosturare "to sew together, sew up," from Latin ad "to" (see ad-) + *consutura "a sewing together," from Latin consutus, past participle of consuere "to sew together," from con- (see com-) + suere "to sew" (from PIE root *syu- "to bind, sew"). The English spelling reflects the 16c. French pronunciation. Related: Accoutered; accoutred; accoutering; accoutring.

"fashionable dressmaking or design" (short for haute couture), 1908, from French couture, literally "dressmaking, sewing," from Old French costure (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *consutura, from past participle of Latin consuere "to sew together," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see com-) + suere "to sew" (from PIE root *syu- "to bind, sew"). Used as a collective term for "women's fashion designers." At first a French word in English; it came down out of italics 1940s.