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Tu·tu

(tt), Desmond Born 1931.

South African prelate. A leader in the antiapartheid struggle, he became a prominent advocate of international economic sanctions against South Africa. He won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize.

(click for a larger image)

Desmond Tutu

photographed c. 2008

tu·tu

(tt)

A short skirt, often consisting of many layers of gathered sheer fabric, worn by ballerinas.

[French, perhaps alteration ofcucu, baby-talk reduplication ofcul, buttocks; see CULOTTE.]

(click for a larger image)

tutu

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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