Where did the word pajamas come from?

The word "pajamas" is believed to have originated from the Hindi language, specifically from the Hindi word "pay-jama," which translates to "leg garment." The term likely originated in the Persian language, from the words "pay" (leg) and "jama" (garment).

The term was first used in English in the late 18th century, and it is believed to have been derived from the Indian clothing tradition of wearing loose-fitting, lightweight, two-piece garments for sleeping. The garments were typically made from light cotton or silk and were designed to be comfortable and breathable.

In the 19th century, the term "pajamas" was used to describe any type of loose-fitting, lightweight sleeping garments, regardless of their origin. By the early 20th century, the term had come to be used almost exclusively to refer to the two-piece garment set that was popularized in the West and is still widely used today.