gele

Where does the word "gele" come from? It comes from Yoruba gele, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Gele’s story begins in Yoruba: gele meant “an elaborately tied, elevated head wrap.” From ga ("high") and ele ("eminence"), describing the towering, elevated wrap. It reached English by 1900s as gele. Worn at Nigerian weddings and celebrations, often in stiff 'aso oke' cloth. Today, gele means a large, elaborately tied Nigerian head wrap worn especially on formal occasions.

1. Stage 1 · Yoruba · traditional gele "an elaborately tied, elevated head wrap", from ga ("high") and ele ("eminence"), describing the towering, elevated wrap.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1900s gele "a tall, elaborately wrapped Yoruba headscarf", worn at Nigerian weddings and celebrations, often in stiff 'aso oke' cloth.