Tapa
/ˈtɑː.pə/noun
A traditional cloth made from the bark of trees, used in various Pacific cultures.
Did you know?In ancient Polynesian cultures, Tapa was not just clothing but a sacred medium for rituals and storytelling, often adorned with spiritual symbols.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Oceanic
POc
*tapa
“bark cloth, used for clothing and ceremonial purposes.”
Ancient Polynesian
Polynesian
tapa
“a cloth made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree.”
19th Century
English
tapa
“adopted from Polynesian cultures, referring to the traditional bark cloth.”
Modern English
English
tapa
“a term used for various types of bark cloth in Pacific Island cultures.”