a simple style of clothing, traditionally made of cotton and commonly worn in Communist China, consisting of loose trousers and a straight jacket with a close-fitting stand-up collar
Word origin
C20: named after Mao Tse-tung, who popularized the style
Mao suit in American English
noun
an outfit worn in the People's Republic of China consisting of a Mao jacket and loose trousers
Word origin
[1970–75]This word is first recorded in the period 1970–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Heimlich maneuver, good old boy, relational database, salsa, urban legend