tutu

¹

[ too-too; French ty-ty ]

noun

, plural tu·tus [too, -tooz, t, y, -, ty].

1. a short, full skirt, usually made of several layers of tarlatan or tulle, worn by ballerinas.

Tutu

²

[ too-too ]

noun

1. Des·mond (Mpi·lo) [dez, -m, uh, nd , uh, m-, pee, -loh], 1931–2021, South African Anglican clergyman and civil rights activist: Nobel Peace Prize 1984; archbishop of Cape Town 1986–96.

tutu

¹

/ ˈtuːtuː /

noun

1. a shrub, Coriaria arborea , of New Zealand, having seeds that are poisonous to farm animals

tutu

²

/ ˈtuːtuː /

noun

1. a very short skirt worn by ballerinas, made of projecting layers of stiffened sheer material

Tutu

³

/ ˈtuːtuː /

noun

1. TutuDesmond1931MSouth AfricanRELIGION: clergyman Desmond . born 1931, South African clergyman, noted for his opposition to apartheid: Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg (1984–86) and Archbishop of Cape Town (1986–96); in 1995 he became leader of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established to investigate human rights violations during the apartheid era. Nobel peace prize 1984

Word History and Origins

Origin of tutu¹

Borrowed into English from French around 1925–30

Word History and Origins

Origin of tutu¹

Māori

Origin of tutu²

from French, changed from the nursery word cucu backside, from cul , from Latin cūlus the buttocks

Example Sentences

Ruble’s newfound affinity for ballet is part of a wider trend of adults who, after donning tights and tutus in their youth, are now returning to ballet studios in adulthood.

From Los Angeles Times

The idea is to wrap the material typically used for ballet tutus around the tree like a lollipop.

From Salon

Luna was dressed in pink leggings and a pink tutu, with a silicone bib around her neck and a soft pink hat on her head.

From New York Times

Weir’s technique may not be professional grade, and her tutu may be ripped and bloodied, but by the end of “Abigail,” her triumphant, unbridled dancing captures something true about why real ballet dancers love ballet.

From New York Times

Their bodies were their canvases, which they bedecked in feather boas, tutus, corsets, Victorian petticoats, Edwardian frock coats, wigs, wings, headdresses, ribbons, sequins, rhinestones, satin, face paint and an abundance of glitter.

From New York Times

Related Words

• dress
• kilt
• petticoat
• sarong