Khaki Meaning
/xɑki/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA dull, yellowish-brown colour, the colour of dust.
nounKhaki green, a dull green colour.
Sentence Examples
Khaki shorts with cargo pockets do not make you an adventurer.
Sami wore khaki pants.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The army issued ____ uniforms for soldiers stationed in the desert.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He wore a pair of light ____ trousers and a blue shirt to the casual garden party yesterday afternoon.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Hindustani خاکی (xākī) / ख़ाकी (xākī), from Classical Persian خَاکِی (xākī, “dusty, earthy, earth-colored”). Noun sense 5 was coined in reference to the colour of the uniform of British troops during the Second Boer War; compare rooinek.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"When you've shouted "Rule Britannia", when you've sung "God Save The Queen",
When you've finished killing Kruger with your mouth;
Will you kindly drop a shilling in my little tambourine
For a gentleman in khaki ordered South?"
— 1899, Rudyard Kipling, The Absent-Minded Beggar:
"But being the right shade of khaki or shit-brown is not enough."
— 1980, Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book, page 60:
"In these notes we have used the British rather than the US terms for colours: i.e. 'khaki' here means the drab brown - US 'olive drab' - used for woolen uniforms and 'khaki drill' for the pale yellowish tan - US 'khaki' - used for lightweight summer/tropical dress."
— 2010, Martin Windrow, French Foreign Legion: Infantry and Cavalry since 1945, →ISBN, page 52:
""Frank, it's a khaki," I whisper, "keep straight on.""
— 1902, Philip Pienaar, With Steyn And De Wet, Methuen:
"War and then victory raised patriotic sentiment inside Britain and brought the Colonial Secretary national popularity. Unionists were quick to milk this with a 'khaki' election in 1900 at which they won a massive landslide."
— 1997, Richard N. Kelly, John Cantrell, Modern British Statesmen, 1867-1945, page 90:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The army issued ____ uniforms for soldiers stationed in the desert.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He wore a pair of light ____ trousers and a blue shirt to the casual garden party yesterday afternoon.