peplum

[ pep-luh m ]

/ ˈpɛp ləm /

noun, plural pep·lums, pep·la [pep-luh] /ˈpɛp lə/.

a short full flounce or an extension of a garment below the waist, covering the hips.

a short skirt attached to a bodice or jacket.

Obsolete. a peplos.

Nearby words

pepin the short, pepino, pepita, peplomer, peplos, peplum, peplus, pepo, pepper, pepper family, pepper game

Origin of peplum

1670–80; < Latin < Greek *péplon (neuter; only plural pépla occurs). See peplos

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for peplum

They would buy a new dress and peplum, go to see Selene, and then be carried to the prefect's.
The Emperor, Complete|Georg Ebers
For an instant he was bending over sandals, caressing a peplum's hem.
A Transient Guest|Edgar Saltus
His wife has a veil (peplum) almost like that which Greek women have.
Byzantine Churches in Constantinople|Alexander Van Millingen
The noble and simple lines of the peplum restored her resemblance to some ancient Athenian vestal.
The Death of the Gods|Dmitri Mrejkowski

Sein Weib hat einen Schleyer (peplum) fast wie die Griechinnen.
Byzantine Churches in Constantinople|Alexander Van Millingen

British Dictionary definitions for peplum

peplum

/ (ˈpɛpləm) /

noun plural -lums or -la (-lə)

a flared ruffle attached to the waist of a jacket, bodice, etc

a variant of peplos

Word Origin for peplum

C17: from Latin: full upper garment, from Greek peplos shawl

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012