dashiki
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of dashiki
From Yoruba dàńṣíkí, from Hausa dán cíkí (with imploded d )
Explanation
A dashiki is an African shirt that's loose and colorful. You'll stand out in a crowd if you wear a dashiki. If you like wearing bright colors and being comfortable, you might enjoy wearing a dashiki. This pullover garment, mainly worn by men, is a staple wherever West Africans are found. It’s colorful, loose, and long. Someone wearing a dashiki is easy to spot. The closest type of American shirt is probably a Hawaiian shirt, which is also quite colorful. If you prefer clothes that are tight or drab, dashikis aren’t for you. Dashiki comes from Yoruba, a Nigerian language.
Vocabulary lists containing dashiki
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Dear Martin
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was tieless, wearing a solid‑black dashiki, and he spoke softly at first, almost cautious.
From Slate • Jun. 16, 2025
When Pearson was reinstated by a unanimous vote on Wednesday, the day after we spoke, he wore a dashiki with a suit.
From Salon • Apr. 15, 2023
He noted the scrutiny he received for wearing a black dashiki - a tunic-like garment that originated in west Africa - for session, rather than a suit and tie.
From Washington Times • Apr. 9, 2023
He noted the scrutiny he received for wearing a black dashiki — a tunic-like garment that originated in west Africa — for session, rather than a suit and tie.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 9, 2023
I have the akrafena in one hand and my dashiki in the other.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
