Kufi

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of cap traditionally worn by men in various cultures, especially in African and Muslim communities
2. A rounded, brimless hat often crafted from fabric that signifies cultural or religious identity in some societies
3. A head covering that can denote social status or participation in cultural practices, commonly seen in religious settings

Etymology: The kufi is a brimless, close-fitting round cap, widely worn across West Africa and in Muslim communities elsewhere. Its name is probably linked to the Arabic "kūfiyya", the word for the cloth headdress better known in English as the keffiyeh. Both names share a root, and the cap's name seems to have come into English with the cap itself rather than with the headdress. The exact route is less certain. One proposal runs through Swahili, where "kofia" means simply "hat", which would fit the East African trade routes that carried Arabic vocabulary inland. Some scholars instead point to the Yoruba "fìlà", also a word for a cap, which suggests a connection with West African speech. The sources do not settle the question, so the cap's name remains a blend of possibilities, each pointing to a different corner of the wider Islamic world where such headwear was common.

Synonyms: cap, skullcap, headwear