labret

labret

English

Etymology

From Latin labrum (“lip”) +‎ -et; modelled on anklet, bracelet, etc. Sometimes incorrectly assumed to be of French origin. From 1843.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈleɪbɹɨt/

Noun

labret (plural labrets)

1. A form of body piercing in which an adornment is attached to the lip; an adornment so attached.
   • 1993, Hilary Stewart, Looking at Totem Poles, page 41,

     The labret was an ornament worn in a perforation through the lower lip, In the north, labrets were oval in shape, generally made of wood or stone, times inlaid with small flat pieces of shell or bone. The wearing of a labret signified high rank.

   • 2003, John R. Swanton, Tlingit Myths and Texts, page 115,

     Raven wore a labret at that time set with abalone shell which was formerly very valuable, and it is from him that high-caste people afterward used those.

   • 2007, Margo DeMello, “Labrets”, entry in Encyclopedia of Body Adornment, page 175,

     A labret is a piercing that is attached below the lower lip, above the chin.

     Also known as the “Mao” (because it looks like the mole above Mao Zedong's chin), the jewelry used in the labret is usually a labret stud, which of a metal shaft with a simple round stud protruding from the face; it is attached inside of the lip with a flat piece of backing metal.

Synonyms

• (adornment on the lip): Mao, tongue pillar (informal)

Translations

lip piercing

adornment attached to lip by piercing

Anagrams

• Albert, Bartel, Bartle, Tabler, balter, tabler

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German

Verb

labret

1. Second-person plural subjunctive I of labern.