GI
UK[dʒiː ˈaɪ]US[ˌdʒi ˈaɪ]
n
A lightweight two-piece white uniform worn in martial arts such as karate and judo.
n
A loose-fitting white jacket worn in some martial arts.
Etymology
The word 'gi' entered English in the mid-20th century as martial arts like judo and karate gained global popularity. It is a direct borrowing from Japanese, specifically a clipped form of 'jūdōgi' (柔道着). The Japanese term 着 (gi) itself derives from the Chinese character 著 (zhuó), meaning 'to wear' or 'garment'. In English usage, it has been reanalyzed as a standalone noun, losing its original compound structure to refer specifically to the uniform itself, distinct from its martial art context.
Analysis
This is a loanword from Japanese, where 着 (gi) means 'clothing' or 'wear'. It is a shortening of the Japanese word 柔道着 (jūdōgi), meaning 'judo clothing'. In English, it functions as a simplex noun.
Examples
He tightened the belt of his gi before stepping onto the mat.
The dojo requires all students to wear a clean, white gi for practice.
She hung her sweaty gi on the line to air dry after the intense training session.