Also 7 lung, lunga, longee, longi, 7–9 lungee, lungie, lungy, 9 loongee, loonghie, lunggi. [Urdū (Persian) lungī, f. lung of the same meaning. Cf. LANGOOTY.] A loin cloth. Also, the material of which this is made.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 197. A lung or cover to conceale their privy members.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Mandelslo’s Trav., I. (1669), 49. Some Cotton-cloaths … of those kinds which are commonly called Dosternals,… Longis, Allegiens, &c.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 53. The Peer as well as Peasant, wrapping only a Lunga about his Middle. Ibid., 101. The Men and Women came down together to wash, having Lungies about their wastes only.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xxiv. 294. His Dress was only a Silk Lungie or Scarf made fast by a Girdle of Gold Plate, about his Middle.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 229. Cloth … made in the form of a Bengal lungy, or Buggess cloth.
c. 1809–10. F. Buchanan, Puraniya, III. 101. The Lunggi … is wrapped simply two or three times round the waist, and hangs down to the knee.
1835. Burnes, Trav. Bokhara (ed. 2), I. 52. He wore a very handsome loongee round his waist.
1882. Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, Loonghie, a mixed fabric composed of richly coloured silk and cotton.
1901. Daily News, 9 Jan., 3/5. Indian soldiers … wearing lungis of beautifully woven silk.
