A type of loose, outer garment worn in some Middle Eastern and North African countries, made from camel or goat hair; also a type of fabric.
From Arabic 'abaya,' referring to the garment or the fabric. The word entered English through trade and contact with Arabic-speaking regions. The fabric itself was traditionally woven from camel or goat hair, making it both practical and valuable.
The aba is one of those garments where the fabric (abaya) and the garment are the same word in Arabic, which is why English borrowed both meanings. It's been worn for thousands of years in desert regions because the thick weave protects from heat and cold—medieval technology that still works!
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