Definition

Noun: 1. A long, loose piece of clothing, typically made of cotton or silk, with long sleeves and a sash or belt, reaching to the ankles. It is traditionally worn by men in parts of the Middle East and North Africa (the Levant and Near East). 2. A style of women's dress or robe in Western fashion that is inspired by and resembles the traditional men's garment.

Examples

• Traditional men's garment:
  • The merchant wore a richly embroidered caftan to the ceremony.
  • Traditional attire for the event often includes a caftan and a head covering.
• Women's fashion garment:
  • She chose a silk caftan as elegant loungewear.
  • The designer's new collection features modern caftans in bold prints.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Context: The term is often used in historical or anthropological contexts to describe traditional dress.
  • In the 16th-century Ottoman court, the style and fabric of a caftan indicated rank and status.
• Fashion Context: In modern usage, it describes a specific, often luxurious, style of loose-fitting dress or robe.
  • The resort wear line is known for its lightweight, beach-ready caftans.

Variants and Related Words

• Kaftan: An alternative spelling of caftan. Both spellings refer to the same garment.
  • She purchased a beautiful hand-woven kaftan from the market.

Synonyms

• Robe: A loose outer garment, often for informal wear or lounging.
• Tunic: A loose, often sleeveless garment, typically shorter than a caftan.
• Djellaba (or Jellabiya): A similar long, loose traditional North African garment with a hood.

Related Phrases and Idioms

(This word is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs.)

Noun

1. a (cotton or silk) cloak with full sleeves and sash reaching down to the ankles; worn by men in the Levant
2. a woman's dress style that imitates the caftan cloaks worn by men in the Near East