parasol

[ par-uh-sawl, -sol ]

noun

1. a lightweight umbrella used, especially by women, as a sunshade.

parasol

/ ˈpærəˌsɒl /

noun

1. an umbrella used for protection against the sun; sunshade

Other Words From

• para·soled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parasol¹

1610–20; < French, Middle French < Italian parasole. See para- ², Sol

Word History and Origins

Origin of parasol¹

C17: via French from Italian parasole, from para- ² + sole sun, from Latin sōl

Example Sentences

A rice-paper parasol swung in her hand.

From New York Times

“The Diamond Jubilee and the Queen riding out in the royal landau under a black lace parasol. And with her daughters: the Princess Helena, the Princess Louise, the Princess Beatrice! How the flags will snap! How the bands will play! How the crowds will cheer as all the world watches!”

From Literature

Roaming among the trees, admiring the verdure, he saw a crowd of daisies clustered above him, like gigantic stars, and decided to cut one down and present his wife with a pretty parasol.

From Literature

The classic example is the “Eloise” books, where a 6-year-old girl lives at the Plaza Hotel and drinks Champagne and gin, wears furs, eats meringue glacée and watches TV with a parasol “in case there’s some sort of glare.”

From Los Angeles Times

A giant parasol in outer space?

From New York Times