pareu

[pahr-ey-oo]

noun

1. lavalava.

2. Also pareo a length of cloth, especially of a brightly colored print, wrapped on the body like a lavalava and worn by women as a cover-up, skirt, dress, or the like.

pareu

/ ˈpɑːreɪˌuː /

noun

1. a rectangle of fabric worn by Polynesians as a skirt or loincloth

Word History and Origins

Origin of pareu¹

Borrowed into English from Tahitian around 1855–60

Word History and Origins

Origin of pareu¹

from Tahitian

Example Sentences

Released in the U.S. last month, her two patterns, Aruhine and Pareu, offer a new vision of vahine identity.

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A thin fringed towel, of the kind found at Turkish hammams, not only dries quickly but can also double as a colorful pareu or scarf.

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Around his loins was a scarlet pareu; he had discarded his bathing-suit as too civilized.

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He drew his pareu tight around him and slipped through the bushes; as he neared the tree he saw another figure approaching it with equal stealth from the opposite direction; the setting sun was reflected from the burnished brown of the savage's shoulders.

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Mr. Pottle's eyes fell on his own scarlet pareu and the brownish legs beneath it.

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