sherpa
sherpa Lexical Profile
sherpa Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A member of an indigenous Tibetan people living on the high southern slopes of the Himalayas in eastern Nepal, renowned for their skill in high-altitude mountaineering.
"The expedition relied heavily on the local knowledge and high-altitude endurance of the Sherpa community."
A mountain guide or porter hired to assist climbers and carry equipment on expeditions in the Himalayas.
"The experienced sherpa fixed the ropes along the steep ridge before the rest of the climbing team ascended."
A soft, thick knitted fabric (typically made of polyester or acrylic) with a curly pile on one side resembling sheepskin fleece, used for lining jackets and blankets.
"She bought a denim winter coat with a warm sherpa lining around the collar and cuffs."
A senior civil servant or diplomat who undertakes preparatory negotiations ahead of a major international summit of heads of state.
"Each country's diplomatic sherpa worked through the night to finalize the draft communique before the G7 leaders arrived."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to a member of the Himalayan ethnic group, 'Sherpa' is a proper noun and must be capitalized; when referring generically to a diplomatic representative or synthetic pile fabric, it is frequently written in lowercase.
• Rhymes for sherpa
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Tibetan 'shar-pa', literally meaning 'easterner' (from 'shar', meaning 'east', plus the suffix '-pa'), referring to the eastern Tibetan origin of the people before their migration to the Himalayas.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.