ENGLISH
REFERENCE

khaki

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈkæki// UK //kˈɑːki// kha·ki Archaic Slang Vulgar

n. a strong, yellowish-brown cloth used to make clothes, or the color itself. You often see this color on military uniforms or casual pants.

n. a sturdy cotton or wool fabric of a dull brownish-yellow color, or the specific hue itself. Often used in the plural to refer to trousers made from this material.


SIMPLE

He wore a pair of light khaki pants to the office.

CONTEXTUAL

The park rangers wear khaki uniforms to blend in with the dry grass and trees of the savanna.

COMPLEX

The transition from bright red coats to khaki camouflage marked a significant shift in military strategy during the late nineteenth century as long-range rifles made visibility a liability.

Origin

Borrowed from Hindustani خاکی (xākī) / ख़ाकी (xākī), from Classical Persian خَاکِی (xākī, “dusty, earthy, earth-colored”). Noun sense 5 was coined in reference to the colour of the uniform of British troops during the Second Boer War; compare rooinek.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the color or the fabric; countable and usually plural ('khakis') when referring to trousers.

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