Khaki

Khaki is a type of light brown fabric, or the color of such fabric. The name comes from the Urdu language khak meaning earth-colored or dust colored. The original khaki fabric is a closely twilled cloth of linen or cotton.

Brigadier Sir Harry Burnett Lumsden began the use of Khaki for British Army regiments serving under him in India in 1848. All British troops in India adopted khaki in 1885. The Boers used khaki clothing as camouflage in the first Boer War; in the second Boer War the British did as well. The United States of America's Army adoped khaki during the Spanish American War. It continues to be used by militaries, but has also spread to civilian clothing.