khaki
[kak-ee, kah-kee]
- dull yellowish brown.
- a stout, twilled cotton cloth of this color, used especially in making uniforms.
- Usually khakis. (used with a plural verb)
- a uniform made of this cloth, especially a military uniform.
- a garment made of this cloth, especially trousers.
- a similar fabric of wool.
- of the color khaki.
- made of khaki.
Origin of khaki
1855–60; < Urdu < Persian khākī dusty, equivalent to khāk dust + -ī suffix of appurtenance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for khaki
Contemporary Examples
Sergei was wearing his uniform off-duty when I met him: a khaki t-shirt and a pair of army surplus pants.
The walls were painted seafoam green, and men in blue shirts and khaki pants stood around to ask questions.
Antek Walczak is 44, in khaki shorts and a vintage T-shirt, with a mop of dark hair that leaves him looking younger.
Bernadette Corporation: Mutating Art Collective Succeeds in the Avant GardeBlake Gopnik
September 7, 2012
She soon finds her soul mate in Sam (Jared Gilman), an orphan and the most unpopular boy in his “Khaki Scout” troupe.
A small, courtly man, Agee was wearing a Panama hat and khaki suit, as if he had been scripted by Graham Greene.
Historical Examples
He and I were the only people of all the safari who had khaki coats.
The Leopard WomanStewart Edward White
Officers in khaki came and talked to them about golf and gymkhanas.
It Happened in EgyptC. N. Williamson
Now people will see what it means to wear the khaki uniform.
The Boy Scouts on Belgian BattlefieldsLieut. Howard Payson
There is nothing half-hearted about James when he has his khaki shirt on.
It is conjectured from this that the supply of khaki is already exhausted.
khaki
- a dull yellowish-brown colour
- (as adjective)a khaki background
- a hard-wearing fabric of this colour, used esp for military uniforms
- (as modifier)a khaki jacket
Word Origin
C19: from Urdu, from Persian: dusty, from khāk dust
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for khaki
n.
"dust-colored cloth," 1857, from Urdu khaki, literally "dusty," from khak "dust," from Persian. First introduced in uniforms of British cavalry in India (the Guide Corps, 1846); widely adopted for camouflage purposes in the Boer Wars (1899-1902). As an adjective from 1863. Related: Khakis.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper