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#90731 01/02/03 02:32 PM
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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. "




#90732 01/02/03 07:01 PM
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>This term to me seems so distinctly UK

But not solely UK. Mufti is used here to describe clothes worn when not in uniform. Most secondary schools here require students towear uniforms, and "mufti days" are a useful generator of revenue, the students paying for the privilege of wearing mufti. Also, unmarked police vehicles are often called mufti cars.


#90733 01/02/03 07:04 PM
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I've never heard it in use here in the U.S. Where is Akina?


#90734 01/02/03 07:22 PM
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>Where is Akina?

It's in Heretaunga.


#90735 01/02/03 07:38 PM
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>Where is Akina?

It's in Heretaunga.


I'm only guessing here, but this looks suspiciously akin to saying YCLIU...


#90736 01/02/03 08:19 PM
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I've heard it used in the US, but I seem to have this feeling that it was an affectation or being used humorously or both.


#90737 01/02/03 08:33 PM
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>I'm only guessing here, but this looks suspiciously akin to saying YCLIU...

"The mere thought," growled Mr Prosser, "hadn't even begun to
speculate," he continued, settling himself back, "about the
merest possibility of crossing my mind."


However, now that you mention it, if anyone did care to LIU, with both place names, the question would be answered in some considerable detail.


#90738 01/02/03 08:52 PM
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Dear sjm: I have never been able to find any useful information about either place.
I even get stuff about Africa and Muslim matters.


#90739 01/02/03 09:02 PM
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Dr. Bill, that surpises me. I just googled "Akina Heretaunga", without the quote marks, and found only 42 references, many of which mentioned specific addresses within 10 minutes walk from my own house.


#90740 01/02/03 09:55 PM
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Dear sjm: When I searched for just Akina, I got among other things a travel agency on Maui;, Hawaii.
Then when you mentiond Heretaunga, I got stuff with only clue mention of NZ.
And when I searched for them together, I still got nothing more than a reference to NZ.
And NZ is not just a dot on the map. I promise I'm not planning to stalk you. Bill


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