thong
UK: θɒŋ | US: θɔːŋ
n. a narrow strip of leather or other material, used especially as a fastening or as the lash of a whip
n. a skimpy swimsuit or undergarment with minimal coverage
n. (historical) a sandal held on the foot by a strap between the toes
The word "thong" traces back to Old English þwang or þwong, meaning "a narrow strip of leather." It shares roots with Old Norse þvengr (thong, strap) and is linked to the Proto-Germanic þwangiz. The core idea revolves around flexibility and narrowness, explaining its application to whips, sandals, and later, minimalist clothing. The modern sense of a skimpy garment emerged in the 20th century, metaphorically extending the "narrow strip" concept to fabric.
The sandal’s thong dug uncomfortably between my toes.
She wore a leather thong as a bracelet.
The swimsuit collection featured several daring thong designs.
Traditional Hawaiian sandals often include a woven thong.
He repaired the whip’s frayed thong with a new strip of hide.