This article is about the fabric. For the colour, see Khaki (color). Kaki, another name for the persimmon, is often misspelled "Khaki".

In 1846 Sir Harry Lumsden raised a corps of Guides for frontier service from Indian recruits at Peshawar. Regiments serving in the region had adopted properly dyed khaki uniforms for active service and summer dress. The original khaki fabric was a closely twilled cloth of linen or cotton. The British army used khaki in the Second Boer War (1899-1902) and adopted a darker shade of khaki serge for home service dress in 1902.

The United States Army adopted khaki during the Spanish American War (1898). It has become de rigueur for military uniforms of militaries the world over (e.g. the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps), as well as the police forces of many South Asian countries and U.S. states and counties. It has also spread to civilian clothing, where "khakis" since the 1950s has meant tan cotton twill pants/trousers.

"Khaki" has also become a common slang term in the United States Navy that refers to chief petty officers and officers (who wear a khaki-colored uniform).

Today, civilian "khakis" come in all ranges of colors and the term refers more to the particular design or cut of the pants/trousers. In this context, "Khakis" have become popular as business casual pants/trousers, and includes other cuts and fabric types (such as chinos).

See also

• Khaki election
• Chino cloth
• Cargo pants
• Chino pants

External links

• Origins of Khaki - The Khaki Cloth - Mangaloreans' Gift to the World
• What is khaki? - The story of the catechu's use as a dye for khaki clothing
• What is khaki? Rant and explanation of Military uniforms - A description and rant about US uniforms made in khaki, and the differences among them