Galabia

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A long, loose-fitting robe commonly worn in Arab countries, often made of cotton or other light fabrics
2. A traditional garment featuring wide sleeves and a loose cut, typically used for comfort and modesty in Middle Eastern cultures
3. An outer robe worn mostly in Arab regions, designed for ease and air circulation in hot climates

Etymology: The garment called a galabia is an alternative spelling of the djellaba, a long, hooded or hoodless robe with wide sleeves that has long been worn across North Africa and the Middle East. The word reached English through French, which took it from Algerian Arabic, where the form "jallāba" named the same loose cloak. The Arabic word belongs to a family of terms for cloaks and robes, and its spelling in English has shifted with transliteration habits. Both "djellaba" and "galabia" reflect attempts to represent the Arabic sound in Roman letters, with the French spelling "djellaba" becoming the more standard English form.