Long, narrow strips of fabric, usually decorative, used for tying, wrapping, or adorning things.
From Old French 'ruban,' possibly from Germanic 'riba' (stripe). The word entered English by the 15th century and has remained relatively unchanged, maintaining its decorative association throughout.
Ribbons appear throughout history as markers of achievement—from military medals with ribbons to academic honors to hair ribbons—suggesting humans have always felt the need to make achievement visible through these thin strips of fabric.
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