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From ARRSEpedia

Denizens of the Middle East.

A soldiers description of our Arab cousins due to their habit of wandering round wearing a Shemagh.

Unfortunately the Shemagh in question appeared to the passing squaddies to resemble a red and white gingham teatowel on the head, ergo Raghead.

Not intended to be a derogatory term, came about due to the squaddie trait of calling a spade a fcuking shovel, see Benny and stills

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