pajamas
/pəˈdʒɑːməz/
noun
Origin
Persian
pāyjāmeh — leg garment
Overview
Meaning Now
- A set of loose-fitting garments consisting of trousers and a jacket or shirt, typically worn for sleeping or lounging.
Literal older meaning
leg garment
Language path
Persian → Hindustani → English
Earliest form
pajamas
Earliest period
19th century
Journey
The term was brought back to Britain by colonial officials from India. Before the 19th century, Europeans typically wore nightshirts. The introduction of pajamas provided a more practical and modest alternative, eventually replacing the nightshirt for men and later becoming common for women.
Evolution
- Old Persian
pāy-jāma
“leg garment”
Compound of pāy (leg) and jāma (garment).
- 18th century Hindustani
pāyjāma
“loose trousers tied at the waist”
Adopted into the Hindustani language via Persian influence in India.
- 19th century English
pajamas
“sleeping attire”
Adopted by British colonials; originally referred to the trousers only.
Connections
Word parts
pāy
root
leg
jāma
root
garment
Related across languages
Hindi
pājāmā
loose trousers
Persian
pāyjāmeh
trousers
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.