Dictionary

Gītān: (Arabic: qītān: cord or shoe-lace), used in hemming or embroidery. The letter (qāf) is colloquially pronounced (ga).

Sway’īyah: (Arabic: sā’ah: an hour in time or a watch, synonyms: Abā, ‘abāyah, ‘abāh, ‘abāt,  daffah, bisht or mishlaḥ ), diminutive term to mean short hours or intervals. In the UAE, it is applied colloquially to the style of men’s cloak (bisht) when draped off the head by women, since it was traditionally worn only for certain rare occasions. However, with oil wealth, the article evolved into more elaborate silk versions.

‘Iqāl: (Arabic: ‘aqal: tie together, pl. ‘oqal), double infinity-shaped loop or lasso cord, used as headband to fix men’s headdress (kūfīyah) into place. Traditionally made of goat or camel hair. Worn throughout the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Levant, Egypt, southwestern Iran by Ahwazi Arabs and the Hola people. 

Kirtah: (Punjabi: kurta, synonyms: bīchī, gawan, fustān, nafnūf), colloquially in KSA, Kuwait and Bahrain refers to sleeved, waist-cinched dress that comes in different styles.

Burgu’_Myānī: (Parisian: medium), in UAE dialect refers to the medium size and eye-opening shape of face masks, generally associated with the Northern Emirates.

Ḥamdānīyah: (UAE Colloquial) turban style of wrapping male headdress (ghutra) referencing the late shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Nayhan known to have sported it in the area. 

Ṭarbūsh: (Persian: sharboush, pl. ṭarābish, synonyms: fez), headdress worn by men, cylindrical in shape, made of wool or the like, and usually red in color, with a black silk tassel. The term is also used to denote the tassel, a bundle of suspended threads.

Lthām: (Arabic: cover, veil, or wrapping), refers to any cloth simply wrapped around the head or tied into a knot at the back of the head so that the face is masked at the nose leaving the eyes exposed. 

Sufrah: (colloquial: UAE, synonyms: kūfīyah, shmāgh, haṭṭah, mshadah, qaḍāḍah, jamadānah), a large square piece of white woven cotton, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead fastened by a cord (‘iqal) and draped off the shoulders. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf. 

زَنُّوبَة: (غير معروف) شبشب مطاطي أو صناعي.

N’ūl: (Arabic: na’il: sandal, pl. ni’āl), sandals.

Farkhah (Arabic: farkh: chic, synonym: farukhah) colloquially in UAE & Oman it refers to a braided tassel hung on men’s tunic (kandurah/dishdashah) neckline.