cloak worn by men or women, made of a square or rectangle of cloth with a hole in the middle through which the wearer's head protrudes. The original poncho, consisting of a rough, brightly coloured, handloomed woolen cloth, was worn by Latin-American Indians. Ponchos are worn with the edges hanging either parallel or diagonally, forming a diamond shape. They became fashionable in the second half of the 20th century. The poncho can also be a similarly designed garment made of a waterproof material, often hooded, worn chiefly as a raincoat.