Khaki

Pronunciation

• Aus enPR: kä-k'Ä“, IPA: /ˈkɑː.ki/
• Rhymes: -ɑːki
• Canada enPR: kär-k'Ä“, IPA: /ˈkɑɹ.ki/, /ˈkɑː.ki/, /ˈkæki/
• Rhymes: -ɑɹki
• US enPR: kă-k'Ä“, IPA: /ˈkæ.ki/
• Rhymes: -æki

Alternative forms

• carky 19th century

Origin

From Hindi ख़ाकी
خاکی, from Persian خاکی (xâki, "dusty, earthy, earth-colored")

Full definition of khaki

Noun

1. A dull, yellowish-brown colour, the colour of dust.
2. Khaki green, a dull green colour.
• 1921, War work of the Bureau of Standards, no. 46, page 54.The English Government for a long time has used a type of pigmented dope cover, khaki colored by iron pigments and lampblack, which is called P. C. 10.
• 2007, Yuji Matsuki, American Fighters Over Europe: Colors & Markings of USAAF Fighters in WWII, page 4, ISBN 0890247110.At the end of World War I, the U.S. Army Air Service painted everything khaki. This khaki was practically the same as British PC10 and can be considered the basis of the later olive drab color.
• 2010, Martin Windrow, French Foreign Legion: Infantry and Cavalry since 1945, page 52, ISBN 1855326213.In these notes we have used the British rather than the US terms for colours: i.e. 'khaki' here means the drab brown - US 'olive drab' - used for woolen uniforms and 'khaki drill' for the pale yellowish tan - US 'khaki' - used for lightweight summer/tropical dress.
• Op. cit., page 56The very loose seroual trousers were made in both sand-khaki drill, and in winter-weight khaki wool for wear with the M1946 battledress blouse.
3. A strong cloth of wool or cotton, often used for military or other uniforms.
4. (South Africa, slang) A British person (from the colour of the uniform of British troops).

Adjective

1. Dust-coloured; of the colour of dust.

Derived terms

• khaki-tile
• khaki green