lungi
Quick Summary
The term "lungi" can refer to two distinct things. One definition, found in older English usage, describes a "dull, lazy fellow" or "lout". This meaning is believed to have originated from Middle French terms related to slowness or awkwardness.1
However, the more common and relevant meaning of "lungi" refers to a type of garment. It is a piece of cloth, typically made of cotton and about 2.5 yards long, that is wrapped around the lower body and tied at the waist. This garment is widely worn in countries like India, Pakistan, and Burma. In Bangladesh, the lungi, often paired with a vest, is the most common attire for men in rural areas and less affluent urban settings. It is comparable to the Malaysian sarong.23
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BangladeshDaily life and social customsThe lungi (a length of cloth wrapped around the lower half of the body, comparable to the Malaysian sarong) with a short vest is the most common form of male attire in the countryside and in the less-wealthy sections of urban settlements. Men of the educated…
Read MoreThe lungi (a length of cloth wrapped around the lower half of the body, comparable to the Malaysian sarong) with a short vest is the most common form of male attire in the countryside and in the less-wealthy sections of urban settlements. Men of the educated…
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IndiaClothing of India…and east, the tighter wraparound lungi. In both cases the body remains bare above the waist, except in cooler weather, when a shawl also may be worn, or in hot weather, when the head may be protected by a turban. The more-affluent and higher-caste men are likely to wear a…
Read More…and east, the tighter wraparound lungi. In both cases the body remains bare above the waist, except in cooler weather, when a shawl also may be worn, or in hot weather, when the head may be protected by a turban. The more-affluent and higher-caste men are likely to wear a…
Read More