Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Loose pajamalike trousers, typically having a drawstring waist and legs that narrow at the bottom, worn chiefly in South Asia.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Loose trousers worn by men and women in South Asia; often worn with a kameez

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a pair of light loose trousers with a tight fit around the ankles; worn by women from the Indian subcontinent (usually with a kameez)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Punjabi salvār, Hindi śalvār, salvār, and Urdu šalvār, all from Persian šalvār, trousers, from Old Iranian *šaravāra- : *šara-, thigh + *vāra-, covering; see wer- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Urdu and Hindi

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word salwar.

Examples

  • During slow moments Grandmother wandered out in the long shirt and trousers we call a salwar kameez, threading her way between the sagging hammocks and chatting with the homesick soldiers missing the dishes of their own countries.

    The Hundred-Foot Journey Richard C. Morais 2008

  • During slow moments Grandmother wandered out in the long shirt and trousers we call a salwar kameez, threading her way between the sagging hammocks and chatting with the homesick soldiers missing the dishes of their own countries.

    The Hundred-Foot Journey Richard C. Morais 2008

  • During slow moments Grandmother wandered out in the long shirt and trousers we call a salwar kameez, threading her way between the sagging hammocks and chatting with the homesick soldiers missing the dishes of their own countries.

    The Hundred-Foot Journey Richard C. Morais 2008

  • During slow moments Grandmother wandered out in the long shirt and trousers we call a salwar kameez, threading her way between the sagging hammocks and chatting with the homesick soldiers missing the dishes of their own countries.

    The Hundred-Foot Journey Richard C. Morais 2008

  • The far end was crowded with Afghan men: the police chief in his gray uniform; the other provincial officials and a mullah in the traditional outfit of tunic and baggy trousers known as salwar-kameez.

    This Is War: How USAID workers are trained for work and danger in Afghanistan Kristin Henderson 2010

  • The outfit I was wearing is called a salwar kameez.

    My K12 Online Conference Presentation Julie Lindsay 2006

  • The outfit I was wearing is called a salwar kameez.

    Archive 2006-11-01 Julie Lindsay 2006

  • 11:01 AM and to correct myself they are called salwar:

    "Those are winter harem pants. Do you hear me? HAREM PANTS. For WINTER." Ann Althouse 2009

  • I was wearing a kurta surwal it’s called a salwar kameez in other parts of South Asia — it’s a long tunic with a pair of very loose-fitting pants underneath.

    A Month of Writers, Day Twelve: Naomi Kritzer « Whatever 2007

  • I was wearing a kurta surwal it’s called a salwar kameez in other parts of South Asia — it’s a long tunic with a pair of very loose-fitting pants underneath.

    2007 December 14 « Whatever 2007

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.