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khaki

KAH-kee · noun

PersianHindustaniEnglish

Origin

Khaki comes from Hindustani خاکی / ख़ाकी (xākī), itself from Classical Persian خَاکِی (xākī), meaning "dusty, earthy, earth-colored."

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Journey

The word originally just described the color of dust or earth, but it took on a specific new meaning as a noun for the drab, earth-toned uniform worn by British troops in the Second Boer War.

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From Hindustani

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