outfit
A crew, company, or whole set of gear.
Also called crew, operation.
Updated September 24, 2026
outfit pronunciation
/OUT-fit/
Meaning
In rural Southern and Western-flavored talk, outfit is a catchall for a bunch working under one name or for the stuff that goes with a job. A logging crew is an outfit. A family farm operation is an outfit. The tools, truck, and tarp you need for a weekend of work can be the whole outfit too. Clothes still count, but porch talk often means the people or the setup, not just what you're wearing.
How folks use it
- “That logging outfit works the ridge every fall.”
- “He showed up with the whole outfit: saw, axe, and spare chain.”
Origin and etymology
Started in English as the gear packed for a trip or job. Nineteenth-century American frontier talk stretched it to the people and the operation behind the gear. Southern farms, camps, and work crews kept that broad sense: anything from a one-truck crew to a big company can be "that outfit."
Frequently asked questions
Does outfit always mean clothes?
No. Clothes are one sense. In redneck talk it often means a work crew, company, or full set of gear.