Khaki

Khaki is both a color and a fabric name. In color terms, khaki describes a pale, yellowish-brown, earth-toned shade that blends tan and olive. The word khaki comes from the Persian and Urdu khaki meaning earth or dust, reflecting the dusty appearance of soldiers’ uniforms in the colonial era. The term entered English in the mid-19th century to describe the color of fabric used for uniforms worn by British Indian Army units.

Khaki fabric originated in British India, where cotton cloth was dyed to a light brown to serve as practical camouflage. By the late 19th century, khaki drill and khaki serge were used in British service uniforms, and the concept was refined into the standardized khaki service dress adopted by the British Army around 1902. The use of khaki as camouflage influenced many other armies during colonial wars and later conflicts.

In civilian fashion, khaki became a generic term for tan-to-light-brown cotton or cotton-blend fabrics, especially in chinos and casual trousers. Khaki fabrics are typically twill or drill weaves that hold color well and resist staining.

Color variations exist, from pale khaki to deeper, olive-tinged tones. In web color names, khaki denotes #F0E68C, a warm tan, but real-world khaki cloth often varies from greyish-olive to yellowish-brown depending on dye and aging.

Today, khaki remains widely used in military and civilian apparel and continues as a standard term in textile and fashion lexicons.