lavalava

American  

[lah-vuh-lah-vuh] / ˌlɑ vəˈlɑ və /

Or lava-lava

noun

1. the principal garment in Polynesia, especially in Samoa, consisting of a piece of printed cloth worn as a loincloth or skirt.

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Etymology

Origin of lavalava

First recorded in 1890–95; from Samoan: “clothing”

Example Sentences

Donning traditional tattoos and a floral sarong-ish lavalava, Saia is our orator tonight at Sa�Moana�s weekly �ava ceremony, or fiafia, in the dining fale.

From Time Magazine Archive

Also, the Fitas wear a white "lavalava" for general duty, and one of dark blue color for dress.

From Time Magazine Archive

Incidentally, you might also have told your readers that "fitafita" is the Samoan word for soldier, and "lavalava," besides being the native word for the skirt, means clothing in Samoan.

From Time Magazine Archive

He was dressed in a dark coat and lavalava and white shirt, and looked very swagger indeed.

From The Life of Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson by Sanchez, Nellie Van de Grift

And then how they marched up here, every man in a new black lavalava, some forty strong, to decorate the grave?

From The Life of Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson by Sanchez, Nellie Van de Grift