Cummerbund
KUM-er-bund
/ˈkʌmərbʌnd/
A broad pleated sash worn horizontally around the waist, typically with a tuxedo.
Designed to cover the waistband of trousers and shirt bottom; pleats traditionally face upward.
The story behind the word. Originates from Hindi/Persian 'kamar' (waist) and 'band' (band). British officers serving in colonial India saw local men wearing waist sashes and adopted them to avoid wearing stifling wool waistcoats in tropical heat.
Word relationships
- waist-sash: Waist-sash is a general term, whereas cummerbund refers specifically to formal menswear waist coverings.
Commonly confused with
- waistcoat: A waistcoat is a tailored vest with buttons, while a cummerbund is a pleated fabric sash around the waist.
Word family
- cummerbunds (noun): Plural form of cummerbund.
Collocations
- silk cummerbund
- pleated cummerbund
- wear a cummerbund
- black cummerbund
Example sentences
- "The black silk cummerbund smoothed the transition between his trousers and tuxedo shirt." Formal dress protocol
- "British military officers in India adopted the cummerbund as a cooler alternative to heavy waistcoats." Historical note
Memory hook
A BUND (band) around your waist when SUMMER (cummer) heat makes vests too hot. Waist sash for tuxedo dress.
When not to use
Never wear a cummerbund with a waistcoat; they serve the same function and are mutually exclusive.
Fun facts
- The upward-facing pleats of a cummerbund were historically nicknamed 'ticket holders' because men stored theater tickets inside them.
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