shweshwe

English

Etymology

From the Sotho name Moshoeshoe, also spelled Mshweshwe.

Pronunciation

• (General South African) IPA^(key): /ʃwɛʃwɛ/

Noun

shweshwe (uncountable)

1. A patterned South African fabric.
   • 1989, Southern Africa Today:

     He employs 40 Sotho women to cut and make traditional Shweshwe dresses — from fabric manufactured In England and in Bisho, near East London.

   • 2009 June 7, Margy Rochlin, “Jo Katsaras: ‘No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     But Ms. Katsaras always keeps the series’s central character, the private investigator Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott, above), the focus of attention with colorful dresses and head scarves made of shweshwe, the traditional South African fabric known for its pulsating motifs.

   • 2010, Lauren Beukes, chapter 5, in Zoo City‎^[2], Jacana Media, →ISBN, page 34:

     The white shift is the plainest thing in my wardrobe, but I've touched it up with clunky beads and a shweshwe headwrap, with the perfect refugee touch, a red-, blue- and white-checked rattan carrier bulging with the weight of an exceptionally grumpy Sloth.