Sherpa

[ shur-puh ]

noun

, plural Sher·pas, (especially collectively) Sher·pa.

1. a member of a people of Tibetan descent living in the Nepalese Himalayas, who often serve as porters on mountain-climbing expeditions.
2. a Tibetic language spoken by the Sherpa.
3. Sometimes sherpa. an expert chosen by a chief executive to assist in preparations for a summit meeting.

Sherpa

¹

/ ˈʃɜːpə /

noun

1. a member of a people of Mongolian origin living on the southern slopes of the Himalayas in Nepal, noted as mountaineers

sherpa

²

/ ˈʃɜːpə /

noun

1. an official who makes preparations for or assists a government representative or important delegate at a summit meeting or conference

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sherpa¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Sherpa sharpa, equiavalent to shar “east” + pa “people” (referring to the origin of this people in eastern Tibet)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sherpa¹

C20: from Sherpa , a member of a people noted for providing assistance to mountaineers: from a pun on the different senses of summit

Example Sentences

The sherpa strike left you with no highest mountain to climb?

From The Daily Beast

When she was 20, she met Lopsang Sherpa, an established mountaineer, who also thought her too tall to marry.

From The Daily Beast

The pride of Kathmandu is a cross-country skier named — I kid you not — Sherpa.

From The Daily Beast

His humility is refreshing; Sherpa himself expects a last-place finish.

From The Daily Beast

These headlamps, Sher realized, belonged to a team of Sherpa descending to base camp.

From The Daily Beast