A long piece of fabric worn around the waist or over the shoulder as decoration or as part of a uniform.
From Arabic 'shāsh' (muslin fabric), borrowed into English through Turkish and Persian traders. Originally described the fabric itself before referring to how it was worn.
Samurai, beauty pageant winners, and military officers all wear sashes for the same reason—it comes from ancient Middle Eastern trade fabric so valued that it became a status symbol worldwide.
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