dashiki

Where does the word "dashiki" come from? It comes from Hausa dan ciki, passing through Yoruba before entering English (1968).

Dashiki’s story begins in Hausa: dan ciki meant “undergarment tunic.” Literally "underneath", a short tunic worn under larger robes by men. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Yoruba as danshiki. From Hausa 'dan ciki', under-garment. It reached English by 1968 as dashiki. Popularized in 1960s America during the Black Power movement. Today, dashiki means a brightly patterned, loose-fitting shirt of West African style, worn especially by men.

1. Stage 1 · Hausa · traditional dan ciki "undergarment tunic", literally "underneath", a short tunic worn under larger robes by men.
2. Stage 2 · Yoruba · 1800s danshiki "short sleeveless tunic", from Hausa 'dan ciki', under-garment.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1968 dashiki "colorful loose-fitting African shirt", popularized in 1960s America during the Black Power movement.