tabi

[tah-bee]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tabi¹

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 Wall Street Journal

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

From The New Yorker