shisha

English

Etymology

From Egyptian Arabic شيشة (šīša), from Turkish şişe, from Persian شیشه (šīša) ‘glass’ or 'mirror'.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈʃiːʃə/

Noun

shisha (plural shishas)

1. An Arabic water-pipe, or hookah.
2. The tobacco smoked in such a pipe, especially as mixed with molasses and flavour extract.
3. (textiles) a type of embroidery which attaches small pieces of reflective metal to fabric

Synonyms

• (textiles): mirrorwork

See also

• hookah
• hubbly bubbly
• narghile

References

• Oxford English Dictionary 2007.