# Abas

/ɐbˈæz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abas
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. traditional garments

noun · CEFR B2

more than one 'aba' — a loose, sleeveless cloak worn in some Arab countries.

For teachers: the plural form of 'aba', referring to traditional sleeveless garments or cloaks worn in the Middle East.

- The men wore traditional abas to protect themselves from the desert sun.
- The merchants were easily identifiable by their finely woven abas, which distinguished them from the local labourers in the marketplace.

Usage: Plural of 'aba'.

### 2. historical coins

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

an old silver coin used in Persia and nearby areas.

For teachers: an alternative spelling of 'abbasi', denoting a silver coin formerly used in Persia and surrounding regions.

- The museum display showed several silver abas from the seventeenth century.
- The archaeological site yielded several well-preserved abas, providing evidence of the extensive trade networks that once connected the region to the Persian Empire.

### 3. a skin disease

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

an old name for a skin disease on the head.

For teachers: an archaic term for a cutaneous disease of the scalp, historically identified as porrigo or scald-head.

- The old medical book described a treatment for abas using herbal oils.
- In nineteenth-century medical texts, abas was frequently grouped with other fungal infections of the scalp under the general category of porrigo.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.