Baboosh

/bəˈbuːʃ/ noun

Definition

A type of loose slipper or soft shoe, especially one that is backless and worn indoors, common in Middle Eastern and North African regions.

Etymology

From Turkish 'babuş' or Persian origin. The word traveled through Ottoman Turkish into European languages, particularly English, as Europeans encountered this type of footwear in the Middle East.

Kelly Says

The babouche or baboosh is basically the reason why 'slipper' became the go-to English word—before encountering these Middle Eastern shoes, English had no word for this specific kind of casual indoor footwear, so they borrowed one.

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