Ruana

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. A traditional garment typically worn over the shoulders, often made of a warm textile
  2. This item is a distinctive piece of clothing resembling a poncho that provides warmth and comfort
  3. It serves as both a stylish outer layer and a functional wrap for additional warmth in colder weather

Etymology: The ruana is a South American garment, a rectangular wool blanket with a slit in the middle for the head, and its name has no settled origin. Spanish "ruana" meant a woolen fabric or garment, and the word passed into French and then into English. Scholars have proposed two main candidates: Latin "rūga," meaning "wrinkle," which would describe the folds of cloth, and Quechua "ruana," meaning "textile." Neither has been proven, so the word's true ancestry remains unresolved.

Synonyms: poncho, wrap