boutique

[ boo-teek ]

noun

1. a small shop or a small specialty department within a larger store, especially one that sells fashionable clothes and accessories or a special selection of other merchandise.
2. any small, exclusive business offering customized service:

   Our advertising is handled by a new Madison Avenue boutique.

3. Informal. a small business, department, etc., specializing in one aspect of a larger industry:

   one of Wall Street's leading research boutiques.

adjective

1. of, designating, or characteristic of a small, exclusive producer or business:

   one of California's best boutique wineries.

boutique

/ buːˈtiːk /

noun

1. a shop, esp a small one selling fashionable clothes and other items
2. 1. of or denoting a small specialized producer or business
   2. ( as modifier )

      a boutique winery

3. a small specialized stall or shopping area within a supermarket, esp selling fresh meat, seafood, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of boutique¹

1760–70; < French, Middle French, probably < Old Provençal botica, botiga (with Late Greek ē > ī ) < Greek apothḗkē; apothecary, bottega

Word History and Origins

Origin of boutique¹

C18: from French, probably from Old Provençal botica , ultimately from Greek apothēkē storehouse; see apothecary

Example Sentences

But in those days there were very creative people like Chris Blackwell who really did the first boutique hotel.

From The Daily Beast

There has even been a boutique Indiana brand (W.H. Harrison) bottling factory-made Indiana bourbon.

From The Daily Beast

The hotels sound upscale-boutique, rather than mega-glam behemoths.

From The Daily Beast

Currently before the NLRB is a case concerning the right of workers at the luxury New York boutique Bergdorf Goodman to organize.

From The Daily Beast

I then found myself a small cheap boutique hotel in the ancient quarter, and collapsed onto the bed, exhausted but relieved.

From The Daily Beast

Ces parolles l sont venues de la boutique de Monsieur le Chancellier et non du Roy.

From Project Gutenberg

There are no new books but old papiers de famille et d'arrire-boutique dished up.

From Project Gutenberg

Somewhat similar is the loss in French of initial a in la boutique for l'aboutique, Greco-Lat.

From Project Gutenberg

While I was in the boutique of a little jeweller, the Princess Bariatinski came in, with one of her female attendants.

From Project Gutenberg

When they reached the shop, it had only the fille de boutique in it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• booth
• store