happi coat

[hap-ee]

noun

(sometimes initial capital letters)

1. a Japanese lounging jacket with wide, loose sleeves and often an overlapping front closure usually tied with a sash.

Word History and Origins

Origin of happi coat¹

1875–80; < Japanese, earlier fappi, variant of fan-pi < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese bàn half + bèi wear

Example Sentences

In the video message, Backstreet Boys singer Howie Dorough, 46, joined in the choreographed encouragement wearing a traditional Japanese ‘happi’ coat bearing colorful Tokyo 2020 designs.

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