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loincloth

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loin⋅cloth

[loin-klawth, -kloth]
–noun, plural -cloths [-klawthz, -klothz, -klawths, -kloths] .
a piece of cloth worn around the loins or hips, esp. in tropical regions as the only item of clothing.

Origin:
1855–60; loin + cloth
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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loin·cloth   (loin'klôth', -klŏth')   
n.  A strip of cloth worn around the loins.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

loincloth

usually, a rectangular piece of cloth draped around the hips and groin. One of the earliest forms of clothing, it is derived, perhaps, from a narrow band around the waist from which amuletic and decorative pendants were hung. From about 3000 BC, the Egyptians wore schenti of woven material that was wrapped around the body several times and tied in front or belted. Sometimes the schenti was pleated or partially pleated and sometimes stiffened to project in front.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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