taboo
taboo
UK[təˈbuː]US[tæˈbuː]
n
a social or religious custom that forbids people from doing, saying, or using a particular thing
adj
prohibited or restricted by social or religious custom
Etymology
the word 'taboo' entered the english language in the late 18th century from the polynesian languages, specifically from tongan 'tabu' and maori 'tapu'. captain james cook recorded the term during his voyages in the pacific, where it described things that were sacred, consecrated, or forbidden due to their dangerous spiritual power. the concept was adopted into anthropological and then general english usage, broadening from its specific religious context to denote any strong social prohibition. its journey from a specific polynesian cultural concept to a universal term in social science and everyday language exemplifies the borrowing of complex cultural ideas.
Analysis
this word is a loanword adopted as a single, unanalyzable unit in english.
Examples
in that culture, there is a strong taboo against mentioning the names of the dead.
the subject of money was considered taboo at the dinner table.
they broke a social taboo by criticizing the traditional ceremony.