Churidars

/tʃʊərɪˈdɑːrz/ noun

Definition

Plural of churidar; a type of fitted Indian trouser that tapers at the ankles, typically worn with a kurta (long shirt), especially in South Asia.

Etymology

From Hindi 'churīdār' (चुड़ीदार), from 'churī' meaning bracelet, because the tight ankles gather like bracelets on the wrist. The term describes how the fabric bunches tightly around the lower leg.

Kelly Says

The word 'churidar' perfectly demonstrates how clothing terminology reveals cultural logic—Sanskrit speakers noticed how the gathered fabric resembled bangles, and that metaphorical observation became the word itself, spreading across modern Hindi and English.

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