A rigid bracelet, typically made of metal, wood, or plastic, worn as jewelry around the wrist or arm. Often worn in multiples for decorative effect.
From Hindi bangri, related to Sanskrit bangara (glass). The word entered English through colonial contact with India, where glass and metal bangles have been worn for millennia as both decoration and cultural symbols.
In many South Asian cultures, the sound of bangles clinking together is considered auspicious and musical. The word's journey from Sanskrit to modern English reflects centuries of cultural exchange through trade and colonialism.
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