Khaki did not begin as the name of pants. It originally meant dust colored, from Urdu khaki, which came from Persian khak, meaning dust.
At first, the word described a color, a dusty light brown or tan shade that blended well with dry landscapes. Later, English speakers also used khaki for a type of cloth and for military uniforms made in that color.
Over time, the meaning widened again. In everyday modern English, khaki often refers to a style of casual pants, even when the exact color varies a little.
- Original sense: a dust colored shade
- Later use: khaki cloth or a khaki uniform
- Common modern use: khaki pants
So when people say khakis today, they are usually talking about clothing, but the word began as a simple color description.
