cummerbund — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A broad sash, especially one that is pleated lengthwise and worn as an article of formal dress, as around a man's waist together with a tuxedo or dinner jacket.

   Examples

   More examples (6)

   All this splendor was set off by a black shawl kummerbund, and blackish upper vest of the cloth called keem-khab, embroidered with large gold leaves. The vest was made like those of all other Mahomedans, but the lower part of it stuck out as you see painted in Indian prints, and altogether destroyed his figure; and the kummerbund was large and heavy.

   Bounty cloathing is to be allowed, in the firſt inſtance, to the corps of Ordnance Drivers, according to the uſage of the Service, and with the bounty cloathing each individual is to be ſupplied on the formation of the corps with a blue turban and a red cummerbund at the coſt of the Government. […] the uniform turban and cummerbund to be afterwards provided by individuals, and kept up at their own expence.

   [W]e observe both Hindoo and Mahomedan guarding most consciously against solar heat, as well as cold. The turban and cummerbund meet our eye at every step:—the former, to defend the head from the direct rays of a powerful sun; the latter, apparently, for the purpose of preserving the important viscera of the abdomen from the deleterious impressions of cold. This [cummerbund] is certainly a most valuable part of their dress; and one that is highly deserving of imitation. […] In situations where atmospherical vicissitudes are sudden, a fine shawl round the waist forms an excellent cummerbund, and should never be neglected, especially by those who have been some time in the country, or whose bowels are in any degree tender.

   Richard Middlemas, as the Begum's general or Buckshee, walked nearest to her litter, in a dress as magnificent in itself as it was remote from all European costume, being that of a Banka, or Indian courtier. […] The vest was of gold brocade, with a cummerband, or sash, around his waist, corresponding to his turban.

   Soon after the arrival of Mrs. Campbell, dinner was announced by Abboye. He came into the drawing room resplendent in his gold-and-white turban. […] His cummerbund matched the turban in gold lines.

   Next came a domeshaped sukhpal (palanquin), its silver plated pole being borne by eight sturdy troopers wearing red flowing kurtas, silk kamarbunds, and silk dungarees.

   She saw dresses in every color of the rainbow; she saw lime green cummerbunds and pink cummerbunds and plaid ones.

   The thin boys with their brush cuts and spotty faces, their dinner jackets and burgundy cummerbunds with matching bow ties, would gape at us.

Noun

1. a broad pleated sash worn as formal dress with a tuxedo

   Broader terms

   girdlecincturesashwaistbandwaistcloth