louche

American  

[loosh] / luʃ /

adjective

1. dubious; shady; disreputable.

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louche British  

/ luːʃ /

adjective

1. shifty or disreputable

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Etymology

Origin of louche

1810–20; < French: literally, cross-eyed; Old French losche, feminine of lois < Latin luscus blind in one eye

Explanation

Someone with louche taste is decadent and flashy. It’s one thing to wear gold around your neck as jewelry, but louche to have all your teeth capped in the precious metal just for the heck of it. Louche is an adjective that describes something “of questionable taste or morality" but is also kind of attractive. It comes from the French louche, which also means “squinting,” and that word comes from the Latin lusca, meaning “one-eyed.” Imagine a louche pirate with an eye patch that you just can't turn away from. It's pronounced like a little kid trying to say "loose," like "loosh." You can also use louche in place of words like decadent, shady, and sinister.

Example Sentences

Louche and loose and dégagé, these are his fashion mots du jour, and Haider Ackermann is just the designer to keep Ted’s gussets well-ventilated.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2015

The duo will perform that material live alongside whippersnappers Paranoid London at Louche tonight; some here will have waited over 20 years to see it.

From The Guardian • May 18, 2013

Email [email protected] for Islington venue info, Sat Silly hip NYC label Wolf + Lamb seem to have found in Leeds' Louche a crew who are on their wavelength.

From The Guardian • Apr. 8, 2011

Continuing their adventurous streak, Louche return alongside System and Teknicolor on 29 May at Kirkstall Abbey's first rave alldayer, with John Tejada, Dinky and Axel Boman, which promises to be firmly up to date.

From The Guardian • Apr. 8, 2011