Meaning & use
bisht clothing
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A loose, flowing outer cloak worn by men in some Arab countries, often over a thobe.
Grammar: Often used without 'clothing': 'He wore a bisht.' The plural is 'bishts'.
Patterns
- wear a bisht
- a traditional bisht
- a black bisht
The groom wore a white bisht over his thobe at the wedding.
Bisht clothing is often made of wool or camel hair.
In some Gulf countries, a bisht is worn for special occasions.
Word forms
| plural | bishts |
|---|
Common combinations
- traditional bisht
- He wore a traditional bisht for the ceremony.
- black bisht
- The sheikh arrived in a black bisht with gold trim.
- wear a bisht
- Men wear a bisht on formal occasions.
- bisht over a thobe
- He put a bisht over his thobe before leaving.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: bisht clothing or abaya? bisht clothing or thobe?
bisht clothing vs abaya
An abaya is a simple black cloak worn by women in some Arab countries; a bisht is worn by men and is often more decorative.
bisht clothing vs thobe
A thobe is a long tunic worn as everyday clothing; a bisht is an outer cloak worn over it for special occasions.
Practice
What is a bisht?
Choose one answer.
A bisht is a loose outer cloak worn by men, often over a thobe. It is not a head covering or a dance.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bisht clothing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.