kofia, noun

Forms:
kaffia, kafiaShow more Also kaffia, kafia, khofija, kofija, kufiya, and with initial capital.
Origin:
IndonesianShow more Probably adaptation of Indonesian kopiah beret, untasselled fez.
a. A skull-cap worn by Muslim men. b. Among Cape Muslims, a fez.
1951 L.G. Green Grow Lovely 189Cape Malays call the fez a kofija.
1970 T. James Informant, Cape Town, Western CapeKaffia.
1971 L.G. Green Taste of S.-Easter 141The flaming scarlet fez is in great demand, but some Moslems prefer maroon, others black. They talk of a kofija rather than a fez and order the style they favour; tall or flat.
1974 J. Matthews Park (1983) 49The eldest one cautioned the other two to take care lest their khofijas be blown away by the wind.
1974 S. Afr. Panorama Nov. 31The Malay men were wearing their ‘kofias’.
1976 Kafia in E. Prov. Herald 2 Nov. 2Referring to ‘Gassan’s Kafia’..I wish to emphasize that the Kafia is worn by all Moslems throughout the world.
1976 G.K. Majombozi in E. Prov. Herald 29 Oct. (Indaba) 2It is a kafia, neither a cap not a hat, and that is that.
1980 A. Dangor in M. Mutloatse Forced Landing 164There were many young men at your house, suitors who wore spotless kufiyas over their Brylcream gladdies.
A skull-cap worn by Muslim men.
Among Cape Muslims, a fez.
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19511980