bangle

Where does the word "bangle" come from? It comes from Hindi bangri, and was adopted directly into English (1700s-1800s).

Bangle’s story begins in Hindi: bangri meant “a bracelet.” A glass or metal bracelet worn around the wrist. It reached English by 1700s-1800s as bangle. First recorded in 1787 in the antiquarian journal 'Archaeologia'; glass and metal bangles are traditionally worn by married women in South Asia. Today, bangle means a rigid, often decorative bracelet worn around the wrist or ankle.

1. Stage 1 · Hindi · medieval bangri "a bracelet", a glass or metal bracelet worn around the wrist.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1700s-1800s bangle "a rigid bracelet worn around the wrist", first recorded in 1787 in the antiquarian journal 'Archaeologia'; glass and metal bangles are traditionally worn by married women in South Asia.