tabi

American  

[tah-bee] / ˈtɑ bi /

noun

plural

tabi, tabis

1. a covering for the foot, similar to a sock, having a separate pouchlike stall for the large toe, worn especially in Japan, often with zoris.

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Etymology

Origin of tabi

1890–95; < Japanese, perhaps < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese dānpí single-skin

Example Sentences

And when the slender high heel was the definition of a feminine shoe, his footwear took inspiration from the traditional Japanese split-toed tabi.

From Washington Post

At one point, only the upper echelons of Japanese society wore them, but eventually, a cotton sock known as a tabi became common among all classes.

From Washington Post

Japanese construction workers don a tabi toe to maneuver on dangerous scaffolding.

From Washington Post

Stupidest Splurge I have these Visvim tabi sneakers that were, like, $1,300.

From The Wall Street Journal

It had a shaped foot with a split toe, like a Japanese tabi sock.

From The New Yorker