noun
khaki
KAH-kee
noun
1
A dull yellowish-brown colour, similar to dry dust or sand.
"The walls were painted a plain khaki."
2
A sturdy cotton or wool fabric, historically used for military uniforms, in this colour.
"His army-issue trousers were made of khaki."
adj
1
Having a dull yellowish-brown colour.
"He wore a khaki jacket over his T-shirt."
How to Use Khaki
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dusty tan-brown colour, and the tough cotton fabric often dyed that shade for uniforms and casual trousers.
Common pairings
khaki trousers
khaki uniform
a shade of khaki
Word Forms
more khaki comparative, khakis plural, khakies plural, most khaki superlative
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Etymology
Borrowed from Urdu/Hindi khaki, meaning "dusty" or "dust-coloured", ultimately from Persian khak ("dust"). The colour became linked with military uniforms after British troops adopted it for camouflage during colonial campaigns in the 1800s.