pajama

A girl (and her doll) wearing pajamas.

Boys in pajamas.

A two year old in a blanket sleeper (footed pajamas)

Pajamas or pyjamas (see also spelling differences) is a word with several different, related meanings in the field of clothing.

• The original pajamas — are loose, lightweight drawstring trousers tied around the waist and worn in South and West Asia.^[1]

• A loose, two-piece garment derived from the preceding garment, is worn as (especially men's and boys') sleepwear, in Britain, the United States, and other countries. Pyjamas in this sense consist of a jacket and trouser combination, made of a lightweight non-stretch material, similar to materials used in bed sheets, with the jacket closing down the front with buttons. These first appeared in Britain as a result of British colonial presence in South Asia in the 18th and 19th centuries, and by the early 20th century had replaced nightshirts as the dominant style of sleepwear for men and boys there. (In South Asia these are known as night suits.)

• Other garments are derived from the preceding garment, such as women's beach pajamas.

• In popular culture, the image of a comfortable T-shirt and mens' boxers worn by young women has to be included as a modern pajama style.

• (Chiefly American) any of a wide variety of (mostly two-piece) sleeping garments are worn by both genders, including the aforementioned jacket and trouser combination, but also including many unrelated styles. In particular, many of these (especially ones for children) are made of stretch knit fabrics of various weights and thicknesses, with rib-knit trimmings, and tops that are pulled over the head like a t-shirt. (See also blanket sleepers, also known as footed pajamas.) Although a distinction is often made between pajamas and non-bifurcated sleeping garments such as nightgowns, some speakers in the U.S. include even the latter within the definition of pajamas.

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."

When referring to sleepwear, abbreviated or diminutive forms of the word are often used, such as pjs or jammies.

History

The worldwide use of the word and the garment is the result of British colonial presence in South Asia 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.

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. Synthetic materials such as polyester and Lycra are also available. They are often worn with bare feet but sometimes with socks (especially in northern countries).

Designs and Patterns

Pajamas often 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

Pajama 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 Pyjamas. 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

• blanket sleeper
• sleepover
• nightie
• sleep

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