Taboo
/təˈbuː/noun
A social or cultural prohibition against a particular practice or discussion.
Did you know?The concept of taboo originated in Polynesian cultures, where it denoted things sacred and forbidden, often linked to divine powers and ancestral spirits.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Polynesian
PPN
*tabu
“sacred, prohibited, set apart”
Early 19th Century
English
taboo
“a term adopted from Polynesian culture to describe something restricted or forbidden in society.”
19th Century
English
taboo
“widely recognized in English as a term for cultural prohibitions, often associated with social or moral restrictions.”
Modern English
English
taboo
“a concept encompassing various prohibitions based on cultural, religious, or social norms.”