monokini

English

Monokini

Etymology

From French monokini, from mono- + (bi)kini, punningly interpreting the first syllable of "bikini" as the prefix bi-.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /mɒnə(ʊ)ˈkiːni/

Noun

monokini (plural monokinis)

1. The lower part of a bikini worn without the upper part (i.e., worn bare-breasted).
   • 1965, "Topless Triumph", Time, 12 Mar 1965:

     All this so impressed the Appellate Court in Aix-en-Provence that it reversed the convictions. "Inasmuch as the spectacle of the nudity of the human body has nothing intrinsic in it that would outrage normal, even delicate decency, and since Claudine Durand concealed her sexual parts with a sufficiently opaque monokini, we acquit her."

   • 2009, Angelique Crisafis, "France Falls Out of Love with Topless Sunbathing", The Guardian, 22 Jul 09:

     French academics and historians have spent the early summer months pondering the sociological meaning of the demise of France's once-favourite piece of beachwear, the "monokini" – the bottom half of a bikini with no top.

Translations

bikini worn without the upper part

• French: monokini (fr) m

• Italian: monokini (it) m
• Spanish: monoquini (es) m

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Italian

Etymology

English mono- +‎ bikini

Noun

monokini m (invariable)

1. monokini

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Spanish

Alternative forms

• monoquini

Noun

monokini m (plural monokinis)

1. monokini