pyjamas

Overview

Meaning Now

• A suit consisting of loose trousers and a jacket or shirt, designed for sleeping or lounging in.
• Loose, lightweight trousers, often with a drawstring waistband, worn in South Asia.

Journey

The garment was common in the Middle East and South Asia as loose-fitting daytime trousers. British colonial officials adopted them for sleepwear in India due to the comfortable, breathable nature of the fabric, eventually exporting the custom to the West where they replaced the traditional nightshirt.

Evolution

1. 17th century Persian

   pāy-jāma

   “leg garment”

   Compound of pāy (leg) and jāma (garment).

2. 19th century colonial India

   pai-jama

   “loose drawstring trousers”

   Adopted by the British during the Raj.

3. Late 19th century English

   pyjamas

   “nightwear”

   Shift from daytime attire to sleepwear in Western culture.

Connections

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Related to pyjamas

• pajamas→
• chai→
• shahrukh→