poncho

[ pon-choh ]

noun

, plural pon·chos.

1. a blanketlike cloak with a hole in the center to admit the head, originating in South America, now often worn as a raincoat.

poncho

/ ˈpɒntʃəʊ /

noun

1. a cloak of a kind originally worn in South America, made of a rectangular or circular piece of cloth, esp wool, with a hole in the middle to put the head through

Other Words From

• ponchoed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of poncho¹

First recorded in 1710–20; from Latin American Spanish: further origin uncertain; perhaps from Araucanian pontho “woolen fabric”; perhaps from Old Spanish poncho “a mantle or cloak”; perhaps a back formation from ponchón “lazy, sluggish”; perhaps an alteration of unrecorded pochón, an augmentative of pocho “pale, faded,” and probably akin to pachón “phlegmatic, sluggish”

Word History and Origins

Origin of poncho¹

C18: from American Spanish, from Araucanian pantho woollen material

Example Sentences

The horseman wore those ancient pants along with a poncho belted at his waist.

From Science News For Students

For a second, I thought I might be able to wrap myself up in the poncho and sleep here for a few hours.

From Outside Online

Ponchos, for example, now cost $5 apiece to transport, compared with 50 cents a year ago, she said.

From Washington Post

Using his trekking poles, a survival poncho, six stakes, and some string, he built a shelter to cover his sleeping pad and bivy and stayed mostly dry despite some overnight rain.

From Popular-Science

I wrapped my poncho around me for warmth and waited in the quiet darkness.

From The Daily Beast

Several others claim to have seen a robust figure wearing a hat and a poncho crouched against a table in the library.

From The Daily Beast

Soldiers either slept in poncho tents or inside their vehicles.

From The Daily Beast

Just imagine wearing this incredible WPNQ disposable poncho as you walk down the street.

From The Daily Beast

So put down the sombrero and poncho, and check out our helpful Q&A.

From The Daily Beast

The landlord inquired what he had got under his poncho, and on learning that it was an angelito, offered him two reaux for it.

From Project Gutenberg

Notwithstanding the heat, which in the month of February is insupportable, I was wrapped up in my woollen poncho.

From Project Gutenberg

May sat hunched up beside me, a rubber poncho over his shoulders and a Winchester rifle in its leathern case between his knees.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a poncho would cost 20l., and would not only keep out cold, but would turn rain like a “macintosh.”

From Project Gutenberg

The young man raised his head, repressing a slight shiver, and wrapping himself in his poncho he looked around him.

From Project Gutenberg