pajamas

noun plural pa·ja·mas \-məz\

: clothing that people wear in bed or while relaxing at home

: loose pants that are worn in some parts of Asia and the Middle East

Full Definition of PAJAMAS

: loose lightweight trousers formerly much worn in the Near East

: a loose usually two-piece lightweight suit designed especially for sleeping or lounging —called also pj's

Origin of PAJAMAS

plural of pajama

First Known Use: 1800

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

PAJAMAS Defined for Kids

pajamas

noun plural pa·ja·mas \pə-ˈjä-məz, -ˈja-\

Definition of PAJAMAS for Kids

: clothes usually consisting of pants and top that are worn for sleeping

Word History of PAJAMAS

When the English went to India they saw many people wearing light, loose trousers. In Hindi, a major language of northern India, these trousers were called pājāma. This word had been borrowed by Hindi speakers from Persian, a language of Iran. In Persian pājāma is a compound made up of pā-, “foot, leg” and jāma, “garment.” The English adopted both the word and the loose trousers from Hindi, using the trousers in place of a nightshirt to sleep in.

Learn More About PAJAMAS

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "pajamas"

Nglish: Translation of "pajamas" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "pajamas" for Arabic speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "pajamas"

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