|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
This term to me seems so distinctly UK it is not a good choice to apply to American casual clothing. Here's what word-detective had to say about it: "Mufti the Bowtie Slayer.
Dear Word Detective: I would be very grateful for any explanation regarding the origin of the word "mufti." This is an expression commonly used to describe casual business dress code in the U.K. I suspect this word may stem from British colonial rule in India, but I am unable to substantiate this theory. -- Matthew Martin, via the internet.
Close, as we say in the U.S., but no cigar, although it was a very good guess. This is the first time I've heard the word "mufti" applied to "Casual Day" in offices, probably because "mufti" is more commonly heard in the U.K. than in the U.S. Not that U.S. workers are slouches when it comes to slouching, of course. I worked for many years in an office, and took great pride in forging my own personal "Casual Day" all week long. I would just periodically declare, in the most ominous tone I could muster, "I'm very sorry, but I cannot wear a necktie. Neckties cause insanity," and my superiors would leave me alone.
Strictly speaking, "mufti" (pronounced MUFF-tee) refers to civilian clothes worn by someone, such as a member of the military, who ordinarily wears a uniform. A soldier on leave, for instance, might well relish the chance to lounge around "in mufti" and not worry about polishing a lot of silly brass (either literally or metaphorically).
"Mufti" is indeed a relic of the British colonial experience, though its roots are in the Middle East, not India. A "mufti" is a Muslim judge, from the Arabic word meaning "to give a legal decision," the same word that gave us "fatwa" or "fetwa" (religious decree), brought to popular attention by the Iranian death sentence proclaimed against author Salman Rushdie a few years ago.
Just how an Arabic word for a Muslim jurist came to mean "casual dress" is a bit unclear. But experts theorize that the first use of "mufti" in English was in reference to the costumes used to portray Arab potentates in popular Western stage dramas in the 19th century. These getups were highly exotic and colorful, making "mufti" a fitting metaphor for a style of dress that was as un-military as possible. "
|
|
|
Entire Thread
|
mufti
|
wwh
|
01/02/03 02:32 PM
|
Re: mufti
|
sjm
|
01/02/03 07:01 PM
|
Re: mufti
|
Alex Williams
|
01/02/03 07:04 PM
|
Re: mufti
|
sjm
|
01/02/03 07:22 PM
|
Re: mufti
|
tsuwm
|
01/02/03 07:38 PM
|
Re: mufti
|
sjm
|
01/02/03 08:33 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
wwh
|
01/02/03 08:52 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
sjm
|
01/02/03 09:02 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
wwh
|
01/02/03 09:55 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
sjm
|
01/02/03 10:03 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
wwh
|
01/02/03 10:12 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
Alex Williams
|
01/02/03 10:24 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
sjm
|
01/02/03 10:30 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
wwh
|
01/02/03 10:44 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
wwh
|
01/02/03 10:59 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
wwh
|
01/02/03 11:20 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
sjm
|
01/02/03 11:27 PM
|
Re: Akina;, Heretaunga
|
wwh
|
01/02/03 11:46 PM
|
Re: mufti
|
Faldage
|
01/02/03 08:19 PM
|
Re: mufti
|
boronia
|
01/03/03 02:14 PM
|
non-uniform usage
|
wofahulicodoc
|
01/03/03 08:23 PM
|
Re: non-uniform usage
|
maahey
|
01/05/03 07:58 AM
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,417
Members9,182
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
1 members (wofahulicodoc),
1,022
guests, and
5
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|