Kandura

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A traditional long robe typically worn in the Middle East, often associated with a cultural or formal attire
2. A loose-fitting garment that reaches to the ankles, commonly used in various Arab and Gulf cultures
3. A versatile piece of clothing that serves as casual or formal wear, reflecting local traditions and customs

Etymology: The garment takes its name from Arabic, where "kandūra" denotes a long, loose robe worn across much of the Arab world and the Gulf. English borrowed the term directly from that language, so it arrived as a foreign word for a foreign garment rather than being translated into an English equivalent. The word has stayed closely tied to its original setting. Speakers of English who encounter it are usually describing the robe as worn in the Gulf states, where it is a common everyday garment for men, and that association has kept the borrowing recognisably Arabic in sound and purpose.

Synonyms: dishdasha, thobe, robe, gandoura, jalabiya