poncho
UK[ˈpɒn.tʃəʊ]US[ˈpɑːn.tʃoʊ]
n
A garment made of a single large piece of thick cloth, typically wool, with a slit in the middle for the head.
n
A waterproof garment of a similar design, often made of plastic.
Etymology
The word 'poncho' entered English in the early 18th century from Spanish, which itself borrowed it from the indigenous Mapudungun language of the Araucanian peoples of central and southern Chile and Argentina. The original Mapudungun word was 'pontho', meaning 'woolen fabric'. The term traveled through Spanish colonial contact, specifically referring to the distinctive cloak-like garment worn in the Andes. English adopted the word to describe first the South American garment and later any similarly designed piece of outerwear, solidifying its place in the lexicon of clothing.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Spanish. It is not productively formed from smaller English morphemes.
Examples
The shepherd wore a thick, colorful poncho to protect himself from the mountain cold.
She grabbed a disposable plastic poncho from her bag when the sudden rainstorm started.
The traditional poncho is an iconic symbol of several South American cultures.