kufi

English

Nigerian statesman wearing a kufi

Etymology

Probably from Arabic كُوفِيَّة (kūfiyya, “keffiyeh”), perhaps via Swahili kofia (“hat”), though some sources suggest a connection to Yoruba fìlà (“cap”).

Noun

kufi (plural kufis)

1. A type of brimless, rounded cap associated with various African nations or ethnicities.
   • 2008 March 2, George Vecsey, “The Primary Season Is Embracing Sports Images”, in New York Times‎:

     Whenever Brown shows up, wearing his African kufi and confronting issues, I find myself nodding vigorously, for old-time’s sake.

2. A type of close-fitting cap worn by some Muslims.
   • 2009, Nawar Shora, The Arab-American Handbook: A Guide to the Arab, Arab-American & Muslim Worlds‎, page 82:

     However, do not assume because the person appears to be conservative (e.g., a woman wearing a head scarf or a man wearing a skull cap or kufi) that the person does not shake hands.

See also

• kufi on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• fuki

Albanian

Etymology

Borrowed through Vulgar Latin from Latin confīnis.

Noun

kufi m (plural kufinj, definite kufiri, definite plural kufinjtë)

1. border, confines, limit

Derived terms

• kufizoj