Bū_slīb: (Arabic, bū: father, slīb: salīb: cross), the term is used colloquially in the UAE to identify overgarments (athwāb) adorned on the neckline (Halj) and central axis (Bidhah), in cross-shaped red silk thread (brīsam) on a dense base of silver coil machine embroidery (khwār_tūlah). The adornment was highly prized due to its silver content. It was imported, in general, ready-made from India and recycled from one garment to the other (tarchībah). Such athwāb were very popular from the early 1950’s up to the 1970s.

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