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Sirwal, alsosherwal,saroual,[1][2]seroual,sarouel orserouel[3] (Arabic:سِرْوَالsirwāl),[nb 1] also known, in some contexts, as (a subtype of)Harem pants, are a form of trousers. The word is ofPersian origin;shalwār (شلوار) was borrowed intoGreek asσαράβαραsarábāra, "loose trousers worn byScythians". The words used inBalkan languages came through theOttoman Turks and did not continue the Ancient Greek designation.[4] They are typically worn inMuslim countries, but also extensively in thePolish Commonwealth, inMallorca, in theGreek countryside, and other places in theBalkans that were influenced byOttoman Turks prior toWorld War I. The trousers are not originally anArab garment but were introduced fromPersia to otherMideastern regions.[5][6] The sirwal is also worn by communities inNorth India.[7]
Thedrawstring allows the sirwal to be worn at either the waist or hip level.
It is usually made fromcotton,linen, orpolyester. Sometimes the cuff featuresembroidery.
There are two types ofsirwal, long and short. Shortsarawil are worn by mostSaudi men. Men of the Western Region usually wear longsarawil.
The seroual formed part of the standard uniform for theMameluke[1][2][8] squadrons ofNapoleon'sImperial Guard, and for the North Africanzouave,spahi andtirailleur regiments of theFrench Army from 1830 to 1962. The French Army version of the seroual was notable for being cut so widely that it did not require two separate trouser legs. During theAmerican Civil War a number of volunteer regiments, designated as zouaves, also wore seroual breeches, though these were usually ofchasseur design, being simply baggier versions of conventional trousers.[3]
