- turban
- 1561, from M.Fr. turbant, from It. turbante (O.It. tolipante), from Turk. tülbent "gauze, muslin, tulle," from Pers. dulband "turban." The change of -l- to -r- may have taken place in Portuguese India and thence been picked up in other European languages. A men's headdress in Muslim lands, it was popular in Europe and America c.1776-1800 as a ladies' fashion.