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

There were latex socks, and the house’s signature tabi boots recreated as thigh-high Crayola-colored recycled rubber waders.

From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2021

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 • Aug. 21, 2020

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2018

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

From The New Yorker • Mar. 16, 2015

Her feet are encased in little white tabi like gloves, for the big toe has a compartment all to itself.

From Kimono by Paris, John