Khaki is a word that has its origins (edit: English language origin) in the Anglo-Boer War. The British in all their pomp and ceremony decided to invade what was then the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal—by wearing bright red coloured jackets.
It did not take long before the Brits understood the other word that was introduced into English at that time—the "commando". Needless to say, the red jackets gave way to Khakis and even after the war the colour remained popular in Southern Africa.
In fact, the word Khaki (unlike other words in Southern Africa) today does not have any negative connotations (with the British) and my grandmother commented on more than one occation that she thought I looked rather dapper in full Khakis.
In South Africa today Khaki can mean any of the two colours as in the article, but I would say it is more common for Khaki to be used to refer to a sand brown colour.
> Khaki is a word that has its origins (edit: English language origin) in the Anglo-Boer War.
Wikipedia says earlier:
> In 1848, a khaki uniform was introduced. [5] Subsequently, all regiments, whether British or Indian, serving in the region had adopted khaki uniforms for active service and summer dress. The original khaki fabric was a closely twilled cloth of linen or cotton.
[...]
> Khaki-colored uniforms were used officially by British troops for the first time during the 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia, when Indian troops traveled to Ethiopia.[8] Subsequently, the British Army adopted khaki for colonial campaign dress and it was used in the Mahdist War (1884–89) and Second Boer War (1899–1902).
There were two Boer Wars and during the first one they largely wore red uniforms. But yes, the history intertwines with the other British colonies, but at the time of their conflict with the Boers they had not at first switched to Khakis. At least, this is how the common knowledge story goes.
But it would be more accurate to say it origins were, amongst other conflicts, forged in the two Boer wars.
Another thing to take into account was that the Anglo-Boer war from 1899—1902 was (prior to WW1) one of the most expensive and critical wars for the British and could perhaps have been the most documented first use of Khakis. Of course, the Boers had been using Khakis (but not so-called) all along.
Anthor interesting thing is that this was also one of the earliers incarnations of trench warfare.
Khaki is a word that has its origins (edit: English language origin) in the Anglo-Boer War. The British in all their pomp and ceremony decided to invade what was then the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal—by wearing bright red coloured jackets.
It did not take long before the Brits understood the other word that was introduced into English at that time—the "commando". Needless to say, the red jackets gave way to Khakis and even after the war the colour remained popular in Southern Africa.
In fact, the word Khaki (unlike other words in Southern Africa) today does not have any negative connotations (with the British) and my grandmother commented on more than one occation that she thought I looked rather dapper in full Khakis.
In South Africa today Khaki can mean any of the two colours as in the article, but I would say it is more common for Khaki to be used to refer to a sand brown colour.