thong

[thawng, thong]

noun

1. a strip of material, especially of leather or hide, used to fasten or secure something.

2. a strip of leather or hide used for whipping; whiplash.

3. a shoe or slipper fastened to the foot chiefly by a strip of leather or other material passing between the first and second toes and often attaching to another strip of material, as a strap across the instep or around the ankle.

4. a brief garment for the lower body that exposes the buttocks, consisting of a strip of fabric passing between the thighs and attached to a band around the waist.

thong

/ θɒŋ /

noun

1. a thin strip of leather or other material, such as one used for lashing things together

2. a whip or whiplash, esp one made of leather

3. the usual name for flip-flop

4. 1. a skimpy article of beachwear, worn by men or women, consisting of thin strips of leather or cloth attached to a piece of material that covers the genitals while leaving the buttocks bare

   2. a similar item of underwear

Other Word Forms

• thonged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thong¹

before 950; Middle English; Old English thwong; akin to Old Norse thvengr strap, thvinga to compel

Word History and Origins

Origin of thong¹

Old English thwang; related to Old High German dwang reins, Old Norse thvengr strap

Example Sentences

She howls with the urge to mate, prowling the house in matching fancy bras and thong sets that clash with this disheveled house and its stockpile of cheap beer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"On Love Island I never wore the thong bikinis and now I'm like 'Why didn't I do that?"

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And I told Bruce, "I woke up at 50 in a thong and stilettos, happier than I've ever been."

Read more on Salon

At Stella McCartney's Paris show, US actress and Michael Jackson's daughter Paris Jackson wore a translucent black off-the-shoulder maxi dress with only a nude-coloured thong underneath.

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Incensed that Williams is falling down drunk at a stadium show, his Barlow flounces up in a thong to hiss, “You’re making us look like fools out there!”

Read more on Los Angeles Times