Jammies
/ˈdʒæm.iːz/noun
An informal term for pajamas, especially sleepwear worn by children.
Did you know?Pajamas entered English in the nineteenth century from South Asia, where they originally referred to loose trousers rather than a complete sleeping outfit.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ped-
“Foot or walking; the ancient root behind the first element of pajamas.”
Old Persian
Old Persian
pāda
“Foot or leg.”
Medieval Persian
Persian
pāy-jāma
“A leg garment, literally clothing for the legs.”
18th Century
Hindi/Urdu
pāy-jāma
“Loose trousers worn in South Asia.”
19th Century
English
pyjamas / pajamas
“Loose trousers adopted into English, later becoming associated with sleepwear.”
20th Century
English
jammies
“An informal, affectionate form of pajamas, especially common in American English.”
Explore more surprising origins