labret

American  

[ley-bret] / ˈleɪ brɛt /

noun

1. an ornament worn in a pierced hole in the lip.

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labret British  

/ ˈleɪbrɛt /

noun

1. a piece of bone, shell, etc; inserted into the lip as an ornament by certain peoples

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Etymology

Origin of labret

1855–60; < Latin labr ( um ) lip + -et

Example Sentences

Labret, lā′bret, n. a piece of bone, shell, &c. inserted into the lip by savages for ornament.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg

There are no high mountains in Alaska, and one year seems to be rather a long period, yet the general fact remains; secondly, a button of wood, or ivory, or stone, called a labret, is placed in the lower lip of girls, in some tribes of boys, in other of both.

From Project Gutenberg

If you will look close at some of these Eskimo women, or even men, you will find that they have a hole through their lower lip, and some of them wear this little ‘labret.’

From Project Gutenberg

A “labret” of ivory or even of wood they valued at four or five dollars—or asked so much as that at first.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the means taken by these people to produce personal ornamentation that of tattooing the face and wearing a labret is the most noticeable.

From Project Gutenberg