loincloth

American  

[loin-klawth, -kloth] / ˈlɔɪnˌklɔθ, -ˌklɒθ /

noun

loincloths plural

1. a piece of cloth worn around the loins or hips, especially in tropical regions as the only item of clothing.

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loincloth British  

/ ˈlɔɪnˌklɒθ /

noun

1. Also called: breechcloth.  a piece of cloth worn round the loins

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• loincloths
  plural

Etymology

Origin of loincloth

First recorded in 1855–60; loin + cloth

Example Sentences

In Japan, the duo even tried their hand at sumo wrestling and Si remembers Dave had gone the extra mile to make sure he looked good in his loincloth.

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2024

The earliest form of underwear was a loincloth.

From National Geographic • Jan. 9, 2024

You’re looking at a guy who has been compared against an example of myself from 25 years ago in a loincloth.

From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2023

“Parents wouldn’t stay, which was very auspicious for ‘Tarzan and His Mate,’” Del Toro says of the 1934 film that starred Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan wearing what was then considered a revealing loincloth.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2022

He wore only a loincloth, like a sumo wrestler.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan