Mufti / noun / muf·ti

“Mufti” is a noun we use in English with a dual meaning. In the first sense, “mufti” represents a legal counselor or “professional juror” authorized to interpret Muslim law.

A “mufti” is comparable to American attorneys we hire to represent legal clients in court and speak to interested parties like judges, lawyers, and counterparties on their behalf. In 1586, we used the term “mufti” to describe a “Muslim legal expert.”

The second sense of the word “mufti” relates to an 18th-century clothing style. When we use “mufti” in this sense, it refers to military-styled clothing worn by off-duty servicemen.

We started using “mufti” to distinguish military service members wearing ordinary clothes around 1816.

In a Sentence

They paused the trial to consult with the mufti, who testified as an expert witness for the plaintiff’s attorney.

The off-duty servicemen dressed in their mufti to blend in with the local citizens of the town.

The defendant’s attorney consulted with the “mufti” to determine the best course of action to take in the client’s legal defense.

Etymology

The word “mufti” has Arabic origins and entered our language in the 15th century, defined by the first sense of the word, which refers to Muslim legal experts akin to attorneys and legal professionals who practice law in the United States. We started using it to describe a style of dress worn by off-duty servicemen in the early 1800s around 1816.

Synonym

Jurist, Apparel

Antonym

Layperson, Unclothed