Sherpa

[ shur-puh ]

noun

, plural Sher·pas, (especially collectively) Sher·pa.

1. a member of a people of Tibetan descent living in the Nepalese Himalayas, who often serve as porters on mountain-climbing expeditions.
2. a Tibetic language spoken by the Sherpa.
3. Sometimes sherpa. an expert chosen by a chief executive to assist in preparations for a summit meeting.

Sherpa

¹

/ ˈʃɜːpə /

noun

1. a member of a people of Mongolian origin living on the southern slopes of the Himalayas in Nepal, noted as mountaineers

sherpa

²

/ ˈʃɜːpə /

noun

1. an official who makes preparations for or assists a government representative or important delegate at a summit meeting or conference

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sherpa¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Sherpa sharpa, equiavalent to shar “east” + pa “people” (referring to the origin of this people in eastern Tibet)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sherpa¹

C20: from Sherpa , a member of a people noted for providing assistance to mountaineers: from a pun on the different senses of summit