Pajamas: Difference between revisions

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rv to previous version by f&f. Your spelling differences link (while modular in the best WP tradition) is too general to be immediately helpful to the "pajamas" reader. OED more focussed.
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m rv / 1) all spelling differences in article titles are dealth with this way. 2) You *can't* post the whole OED definition.
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[[Image:JessiePyjamas.jpg|thumb|A girl (and her [[doll]]) wearing pajamas.]][[Image:Kids in pajamas.jpg|thumb|Boys in pajamas.]]'''Pajamas''' (also, '''pyjamas''' in [[British English|British]] and [[Commonwealth English|Commonwealth]] English) are loose, lightweight drawstring trousers tied around the waist and worn in [[South Asia|South]] and [[West Asia|West]] Asia;<ref>''The Oxford English Dictionary''. 1989 edition. Oxford University Press. Oxford and London. '''Definition''': a. Loose drawers or trousers, usually of silk or cotton, tied round the waist, worn by both sexes in Turkey, Iran, India, etc., and adopted by Europeans in those countries, especially for night wear; hence applied outside Asia (orig. in trade use) to a sleeping suit of loose trousers and jacket. In extended use, applied to a similar day-time or evening garment worn by women (see also beach-pyjamas s.v. BEACH n. 4, palazzo pyjamas s.v. PALAZZO 3). Also (occas.) sing., as pyjama.</ref> or a form of [[nightwear]] worldwide&mdash;often two-piece garments but sometimes [[one-piece garment]]s&mdash;worn by children and adults alike (and also called '''PJs''' or '''jammies'''; '''sleeping suits''' or '''[[blanket sleeper]]s'''&mdash;for children's one-piece garments&mdash;in British or American English respectively; and '''night suits'''&mdash;for two-piece garments&mdash;in [[South Asian English]]). The wearing of pajamas as nightwear is sometimes seasonal; ''e.g.'', only in winter time.
[[Image:JessiePyjamas.jpg|thumb|A girl (and her [[doll]]) wearing pajamas.]][[Image:Kids in pajamas.jpg|thumb|Boys in pajamas.]]'''Pajamas''' or '''pyjamas''' (see also [[American and British English spelling differences#Miscellaneous spelling differences|spelling differences]]) are loose, lightweight drawstring trousers tied around the waist and worn in [[South Asia|South]] and [[West Asia|West]] Asia;<ref>cf. ''The Oxford English Dictionary''. 1989 edition. Oxford University Press. Oxford and London.</ref> or a form of [[nightwear]] worldwide&mdash;often two-piece garments but sometimes [[one-piece garment]]s&mdash;worn by children and adults alike (and also called '''PJs''' or '''jammies'''; '''sleeping suits''' or '''[[blanket sleeper]]s'''&mdash;for children's one-piece garments&mdash;in British or American English respectively; and '''night suits'''&mdash;for two-piece garments&mdash;in [[South Asian English]]). The wearing of pajamas as nightwear is sometimes seasonal; ''e.g.'', only in winter time.


The word "pyjama" was incorporated into the English language from [[Hindustani]] (the progenitor language of modern-day [[Urdu]] and [[Hindi]]). The word originally derives from the [[Persian language|Persian]] word پايجامه ''Payjama'' meaning "leg garment."
The word "pyjama" was incorporated into the English language from [[Hindustani]] (the progenitor language of modern-day [[Urdu]] and [[Hindi]]). The word originally derives from the [[Persian language|Persian]] word پايجامه ''Payjama'' meaning "leg garment."

Revision as of 23:26, 2 January 2007

A girl (and her doll) wearing pajamas.
Boys in pajamas.

Pajamas or pyjamas (see also spelling differences) are loose, lightweight drawstring trousers tied around the waist and worn in South and West Asia;[1] or a form of nightwear worldwide—often two-piece garments but sometimes one-piece garments—worn by children and adults alike (and also called PJs or jammies; sleeping suits or blanket sleepers—for children's one-piece garments—in British or American English respectively; and night suits—for two-piece garments—in South Asian English). The wearing of pajamas as nightwear is sometimes seasonal; e.g., only in winter time.

The word "pyjama" was incorporated into the English language from Hindustani (the progenitor language of modern-day Urdu and Hindi). The word originally derives from the Persian word پايجامه Payjama meaning "leg garment."

History

The worldwide use of the word and the garment is the result of British colonial presence in India in the 18th and 19th centuries.[2] According to Yule and Burnell's Hobson-Jobson (1903)[3] the word originally referred to loose trousers tied around the waist.

Such a garment is used by various persons in India e.g. by women of various classes, by Sikh men, and most by Mahommedans of both sexes. It was adopted from the Mahommedans by Europeans as an article of dishabille and of night attire ... It is probable that we English took the habit like a good many others from the Portuguese. Thus Pyarard (c. 1610) says, in speaking of Goa Hospital: "Ils ont force calsons sans quoy ne couchent iamais les Portugais des Indes" ... The word in now used in London shops. A friend furnishes the following reminiscence: "The late Mr. B—, tailor in Jermyn Street, some 40 years ago, in reply to a question why pyjammas had feet sewn on to them (as was sometimes the case with those furnished by London outfitters) answered: 'I believe, Sir, it is because of the White Ants'."[4] Examples. 1828: "His chief joy smoking a cigar in loose Paee-jams and native slippers." Orient. Sport. Mag. reprint 1873, i. 64. 1881: "The rest of our attire consisted of that particularly light and airy white flannel garment, known throughout India as a pajama suit." Haekel, Ceylon, p. 329.

File:Narrow asiapyjamaworn.jpg
Narrow churidar silk pyjamas (with mojari shoes) as worn in South Asia.
A formal silk pyjama and kurta (long shirt) combination.
A man's salwar (wide) pajama pants.
Salwar pajama pants (with Kabuli sandals) as worn in South and Central Asia.

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, "They were introduced in England as lounging attire in the 17th century but soon went out of fashion. About 1870 they reappeared in the Western world as sleeping attire for men, after returning British colonials brought (them) back ...."[5]

Material

A two-piece pajamas set.

Pajamas are usually loose fitting and designed for comfort, using softer materials such as cotton or the more luxurious silk or satin.

Designs and Patterns

Pajamas oftentimes contain visual references to a thing that may hold some special appeal to the wearer. Images of sports, animals, balloons, polka dots and other things may all be used to decorate them. Pajamas may also be found in plainer designs, such as plaid or plain gray, but when worn in public, they are usually designed in such a way that makes their identity unambiguous.

Custom

Pajamas bottoms worn with a long-sleeve T-shirt.

Pajamas are often worn as comfort wear even when not in bed, and are also sometimes worn as a fashion statement. In North America, some people (mainly young females) have started to wear pajama pants in public as fashion. In China, it is not unusual in the late afternoon or evening, to have adults wear their pajamas in public around their local neighborhood.

References to Pajamas in Popular Culture

The Pajama Game was a Broadway musical and also film highlighting workers at a pajama factory.

Pajamas played a prominent role on a popular kids television shown known as Bananas in Pajamas. The show detailed the adventures of two bananas while wearing their pajamas.

Pajamas Media (briefly known as Open Source Media) is a service created by mystery writer and Huffington Post blogger Roger L. Simon and Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs "with the intention of... aggregating blogs" [1], as well as " fact-checking." [2].

Notes

  1. ^ cf. The Oxford English Dictionary. 1989 edition. Oxford University Press. Oxford and London.
  2. ^ Lewis, Ivor. 1991. Sahibs, Nabobs and Boxwallahs: A Dictionary of Words of Anglo-India. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 266 pages. ISBN 0195642236.
  3. ^ Yule, Henry and A.C. Burnell. 1903. Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive. London: John Murray. 1021 pages.
  4. ^ According to Hobson-Jobson, "The insect (Termes bellicosus of naturalists) not properly an ant, of whose destructive powers there are in India so many disagreeable experiences, and so many marvellous stories."
  5. ^ pajamas. (2006). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 29, 2006, from : Encyclopædia Britannica Online.

See also