'nudist' originates from the English word 'nude', specifically the word 'nudus' in Latin, where 'nudus' meant 'naked'.

'nudus' transformed into the French word 'nu', and eventually became the modern English word 'nude', leading to the formation of 'nudist'.

Initially, it meant 'a person who is naked', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person who practices nudism'.