djellaba
UK[dʒəˈlɑːbə]US[dʒəˈlɑːbə]
n
a loose, hooded, long-sleeved robe traditionally worn by men and women in north africa.
Etymology
the word 'djellaba' entered english in the early 19th century from french, which itself borrowed it from the arabic word 'jallābah'. the arabic term is derived from the root 'j-l-b', which relates to the concept of a garment or gown. this borrowing reflects the cultural and material exchange between europe and north africa, where the distinctive garment was encountered. the word's spelling in english has been stabilized with the initial 'dj' to approximate the arabic sound, representing a specific item of clothing with no native english morphological breakdown.
Analysis
this word is a direct loanword from arabic, borrowed as a single lexical unit into english. it does not contain separable morphemes within the english spelling system.
Examples
he wore a simple white djellaba to the market.
the intricate embroidery on her djellaba was hand-stitched.
the lightweight cotton djellaba is ideal for the desert climate.