abacost

English

Mobutu (on the left) wearing an abacost in 1983.

Etymology

From French. A contraction of à bas le costume (“down with the western suit”)[1]

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ˈæ.bə.kɒst/
(US) IPA^(key): /ˈæ.bə.kɑst/

Noun

abacost (plural abacosts)

(chiefly historical) A short- or long-sleeved button-up jacket, worn without a shirt, that was promoted in Zaire under the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko. [First attested in the late 20^th century][1]
- 2005, Jeanne M. Haskin, The tragic state of the Congo: from decolonization to dictatorship, Algora, page 44:
  Wearing a collarless jacket called the abacost that reflected the style of chairman Mao, Mobutu outlawed the traditional suits and business dress of the West.
- 2006, Martin Meredith, Africa: from the hopes of freedom to the heart of despair, PublicAffairs, page 296:
  The abacost became Mobutu's personal trademark, […]
- 2007, Gemma Pitcher et al., Africa, 11th edition, Lonely Planet, page 562:
  [T]he new leader [Mobutu Sese Seko] embarked on a campaign of 'Africanisation', with […] suits giving way to the abacost (a Congolese version of the Mao jacket); […]
- 2007, Michael Powell, 101 People You Won't Meet in Heaven, Globe Pequot, page 206:
  [A]ll western clothing was banned—to be replaced by one-piece tunic called an abacost.

References

Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “abacost”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 2.

Anagrams

Tabasco, tabasco

French

Etymology

Contraction of the political slogan à bas le costume! (“down with the suit!”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /a.ba.kɔst/

Noun

abacost m (plural abacosts)

(Africa, chiefly historical) abacost

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