Meanings
nounhuipil (plural huipils or huipiles)
plural huipils · plural huipiles
- A traditional blouse worn by the women of various indigenous peoples of Central America including the Maya and Zapotec, or the textile from which such a garment is made.
Huipiles are traditionally woven on a backstrap loom and embroidered by women, to be worn by women.
2026, “Traditional Clothing with Motifs and Colors That Carry a Message”, in Lynn Rognsvoog, editor, Handwoven, volume XLVII, number 1, page 61 more example
A woman weaves her huipil after praying to the saints, who are believed to have taught women to weave "in the beginning of time.
1988 February 5, Salena Fuller, “On Exhibit: modern art of the ancient Maya”, in Chicago Reader
Origin
- Classical Nahuatlhuīpīlli“woman's blouse”
- Spanishhuipil
- Englishhuipil
From Spanish huipil, from Classical Nahuatl huīpīlli (“woman's blouse”).
More words from Spanish, Classical Nahuatl
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
huipil. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/huipil
MLA
“huipil.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/huipil. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “huipil,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/huipil.
Source: huipil on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.