tanga1
/ˈtaŋɡə
/(also tanga briefs)
noun British
A pair of briefs consisting of small panels connected by strings at the sides: tanga briefs...
- Eyewitnesses claim to have seen ‘a beautiful woman with wild golden-streaked chestnut-colored hair wearing a golden tanga with little silver stars embroidered beneath the waistband.’
- According to the latter, if you want to do it the Brazilian way, guys should be sporting nothing but a sunga, a tiny piece of square Lycra, and ladies need to invest in a tanga, a minuscule bikini.
- This marvellous creation is worked in precious two-tone variegated lace, and is accompanied by a tanga panty and a push-up bra with latticed straps.
Origin
Early 20th century (denoting a loincloth worn by indigenous peoples in tropical America): from Portuguese, ultimately of Bantu origin. The current sense dates from the 1970s.
Rhymes
Tanga2
/ˈtaŋɡə/One of the principal ports of Tanzania, situated in the north-east of the country on the Indian Ocean; population 240,000 (est. 2009).