A Complete Dictionary of Dry Goods | by George S. Cole

Preface

In presenting to the Dry Goods trade its first Dictionary (of American origin) the compiler feels confident that the time and labor devoted to make the work accurate ...

Abb Wool

Abb Wool. In wool-sorting one of the two qualities known as coarse abb and fine abb; the lowest quality of wool used in the ...

Abnet

Abnet. [From Hebrew abnet, a belt] In Jewish antiquity a girdle of fine linen. In surgery a bandage resembling ...

Acca

Acca. [From Acre, a city in Syria, whence it was first obtained] A rich figured silk fabric decorated with gold, in ...

Adulteration Of Fabrics

Adulteration Of Fabrics. Woolens have been for years past largely adulterated with refuse fibers called ...

Agra Gauze

Agra Gauze. A cobwebby fabric woven of gossamer silk threads. It is transparent ...

Aida Canvas

Aida Canvas (A'-Da Canvas). A species of canvas woven of pure linen, and frequently called Java ...

Aigrette

Aigrette (A'-Gret Or A-Gret), A French word used to denote the plume or feathery tuft on the heads of several varieties of birds, as the heron. Hence the term ...

Alamode

Alamode (Al'-A-Mode). A thin, glossy silk used for hoods and scarfs. ...

Alaska

Alaska. The name given to a variety of sandal-shaped overshoes, without fastenings of any sort, having cloth uppers and rubber soles. [See ...

Albatross

Albatross (Al'-Ba-Tross). A soft untwilled woolen dress fabric; properly a soft fine ...

Albert-Cloth

Albert-Cloth. An all-wool material the two sides of which are of different colors and patterns, each side ...

Alexis

Alexis (A-Lex'-Is). A style of fur cap for men, distinguished by the crown being made long and deep so that it may be ...

Alizarin

Alizarin (Al-I-Za'-Rin). [From al-i-za-ri, the commercial name of madder in Asia] A peculiar red coloring matter formerly obtained from ...

Alpaca

Alpaca. The wooly hair of an animal of the camel tribe, which inhabit the mountainous districts of Chili and Peru. In appearance this wool ...

Altar Cloth

Altar Cloth. A general term, formerly designating the closed case of linen used for covering an altar, and which was never allowed to ...

Aluminum

Aluminum (Al-U'-Mi-Num). - An extremely light metal made from Iceland spar. Aside from its lightness and strength, it is malleable, does not rust, is as ...

American Cloth

American Cloth. A name given in England to a cotton cloth, prepared with a glazed and varnished surface ...

Angola

Angola. A diaper-woven cotton cloth with a fine rough face, somewhat resembling a ...

Angora Wool Or Mohair

Angora Wool Or Mohair. Of all animals whose fleece is largely used in the manufacture of ...

Angora Cashmere

Angora Cashmere. A term employed to denote a certain kind of cloth made in imitation of camels'-hair ...

Aniline

Aniline. One of the very numerous products of the distillation of coal tar. The readiness with which aniline, in certain of its reactions, produced very brilliant ...

Applique

Applique (Ap-Pli-Ka'). In modern dress and upholstery this term signifies applied or sewed on. Thus, the ...

Apron

Apron. The apron dates far back. Ever since over first parents ages and ages ago sewed fig leaves into aprons to conceal their nakedness, this style of ...

Arctics

Arctics. A heavy variety of rubber overshoes, distinguished by having a cloth top which buckles up over the ankles, rubber heels and ...

Areophane

Areophane. A variety of crape, but considerably thinner than the ordinary kind. It was formerly used chiefly for ...

Armozeen

Armozeen (Ar-Mo-Zeen'). [From French armoism] A kind of taffeta or plain silk used for women's dresses in the ...

Armure Or Royal Armure

Armure Or Royal Armure. [French for armor] The word is suggestive of the style of weaving. In feudal times ...

Arras

Arras (Ar'-As). Arras cloth takes its name from the town of Arras, situated in the north of France. In the ...

Arrasene

Arrasene (Ar-A-Sene'). A sort of cord made with a central thread and a thick velvet-like ...

Asbestos

Asbestos (As-Bes'-Tos). A fibrous variety of a mineral substance, composed of separable filaments, with a silky luster. Its fibres are sometimes flexible and ...

Astrakhan

Astrakhan (As'-Tra-Kan). [From Astrakhana, a city and province in Russia] Originally in Russia this was a name given to skins having a short, curly ...

Aune

Aune. A French long measure of 11/4 yards, used chiefly for cloth. It is derived from Latin alna, forearm. [See ...

Baby Caps

Baby Caps. The styles of baby caps are originated in Paris and other fashion centres of Europe, and are copied in this country the ...

Baize

Baize. [Spanish plural for bay] In the 16th century a light woolen fabric of a brownish-red or bay color (whence its name) was ...

Balayeuse

Balayeuse (Bah'-Lay-Yuhz). [French feminine of balayeur, a sweeper] A frilling of lace or muslin which lines ...

Balbriggan

Balbriggan. A descriptive term applied to cotton knitted fabrics, either hosiery or ...

Baleen

Baleen (Ba-Lene'). The horny teeth of whales; whalebone in its natural state. [Whalebone]....

Balloon-Net

Balloon-Net. A kind of woven lace in which the weft threads are twisted in a peculiar manner around the ...

Balmoral

Balmoral (Bal-Mor'-Al). A name given to various articles of dress, possessing unusual strength and weight. Specifically, a term applied ...

Band

Band. A flexible material, used to bind or bend around anything; as a hat-band. Also a border or strip on an article of dress serving to ...

Bandana

Bandana (Ban-Dan'-A). [From a Hindoo word Bandhnn, which means '* a mode of dyeing, in which the cloth is tied ...

Bangle

Bangle. [Hindoo Bangri, a bracelet of glass]. An ornamental ring worn upon the arms and ankles in India, and upon the legs and fastened in the ears, nose and lips ...

Bank-Credit

Bank-Credit. A credit that merchants often have with a bank, by which, on proper security given to the bank, the merchant receives liberty to draw to a ...

Bankrupt

Bankrupt. The breaking up of a merchant's business, due to his inability to meet his obligations. In modern law, any person who upon his own petition or that of ...

Bankruptcy Laws

Bankruptcy Laws. The legal regulations under which the property of an insolvent may be distributed among his creditors, with the double object of ...

Barcelona Silk Kerchiefs

Barcelona Silk Kerchiefs. These kerchiefs are named from Bar-ce-lo'-na, in Spain, from whence they were originally brought, though now all made ...

Barege

Barege (Ba-Razh'). [So called from Bareges, a town in France, where it was first made] Barege veiling is woven with an extremely fine ...

Barras

Barras (Bar'-As). A coarse linen fabric imported by this country in the 17th century from ...

Barrow-Coat

Barrow-Coat. A square or oblong piece of flannel, wrapped around an infant's body below the arms, the part extending beyond the ...

Barter

Barter. To traffic or trade by exchanging one commodity for another, in distinction from buying and selling for money. ...

Basket-Weave

Basket-Weave. A style of weaving which produces a pattern resembling the plaited-work of a basket. ...

Basse-Lisse

Basse-Lisse (Bas-Lese'). Woven with the warp in the usual horizontal position, as distinguished from that which is woven with the warp ...

Bast

Bast. The strong inner fibrous bark of various trees, especially a species of linden, of which the Russia matting of commerce is made. ...

Bastard Cloth

Bastard Cloth. A cloth presumably imitating a more expensive material. ...

Basting-Machine

Basting-Machine. A sewing-machine used for basting together pieces of fabrics, to make a continuous piece for bleaching, ...

Bat

Bat. See Batting. ...

Bathing Suits And Trunks

Bathing Suits And Trunks. Bathing trunks are usually made of knitted cotton or ...

Bating

Bating. The process of steeping hides and skins in an alkaline bath to separate the oil and fleshy matter, and render them soft and pliable, preparatory to tanning....

Batiste

Batiste. A variety of cotton muslin, having a good deal of dress, closely resembling ...

Batting

Batting. Raw cotton or wool prepared in thick, but lightly-matted lapped sheets, used chiefly in the ...

Baudekin

Baudekin (Ba'-De-Kin). A rich embroidered or brocaded silk fabric woven originally ...

Bayeta

Bayeta (Ba-Ya'-Ta). A common kind of coarse Spanish baize. [See Baize] ...

Beads

Beads. [From Anglo-Saxon bede, a prayer] Small perforated ornaments, of round or oblong shape, worn by women in necklaces, bracelets and head-dresses; and also for ...

Beam-Roll

Beam-Roll. In cloth manufacture, the spool-shaped roll upon which the warp-...

Bearing-Cloth

Bearing-Cloth. A cloth with which a child is covered when carried to church to be baptised, often richly embroidered ; also called ...

Beaver

Beaver. See Furs. ...

Beaver Cloth

Beaver Cloth. A thick woolen cloth used for garments by both sexes. The weave is similar to doeskin. ...

Beaver Bat

Beaver Bat. The modern stiff silk hat was commonly called a beaver until shortly after the civil ...

Beaverteen

Beaverteen. A strong twilled cotton fabric for men's wear, napped on wrong side ; similar to ...

Bed-Clothes

Bed-Clothes. The coverings used on beds; sheets, blankets, quilts, slips, etc., collectively. ...

Bedford Cord

Bedford Cord. A particular style of weave found usually in dress fabrics, consisting of heavy ribs running lengthwise of the ...

Bed-Gown

Bed-Gown. A night-gown or night-dress; a kind of jacket like a dressing-...

Bedizen

Bedizen (Be-Diz'-En). To deck or dress out, especially in a tawdry manner or with vulgar finery. ...

Bed-Linen

Bed-Linen. Sheets, pillow-cases and bolster slips, originally always of linen, but ...

Bed Pocket

Bed Pocket. A small bag, in use during the early part of the present century, hung at the head of the bed at night in which to put away things which might be ...

Bed Quilt

Bed Quilt. A wadded and quilted covering for a bed; as a bed spread or comfort, as distinguished from a counterpane or an ...

Bed Tick

Bed Tick. A case of strong cotton or linen material for containing the feathers or ...

Beetling Machine

Beetling Machine. A machine for finishing linen or cotton cloth ...

Beige

Beige (Bazh). [from It. bigio -gray] In France in the early part of the present century there was a sort of twilled dress ...

Bend-Leather

Bend-Leather. The strongest kind of sole-leather used for shoes. A name in the leather trade for a butt or rounded crop cut in two; ...

Bengaline

Bengaline (Ben' Gal-Ene'). A dress fabric woven exactly like a Faille ...

Bengal Stripes

Bengal Stripes. Wide striped ginghams used for skirting, so called from having originally been brought from Bengal, but now manufactured exclusively in ...

Berlin Wool

Berlin Wool. A fine woolen yarn for working fancy articles in needle work. Also called German ...

Berlin Gloves

Berlin Gloves. See Gloves. ...

Bias

Bias. A cut which is diagonal or oblique to the texture of a fabric. In ...

Bib

Bib. [From L. bibere to drink whence also our words imbibe, bibulous, etc] A cloth worn by children to keep the front of the ...

Birdseye Linen

Birdseye Linen. A honey comb or diamond-figured linen fabric used for towels and fancy-work. Birdseye is ...

Biretz

Biretz. See Electoral Cloth. ...

Blacksize

Blacksize. In leather manufacture, to cover the tanned skin with a coat of stiff ...

Blankets

Blankets. [Said to be derived from Fr. blanchet, meaning a blank piece of cloth, without figure. The name is also claimed to be derived ...

Blazer

Blazer. A bright colored, loose summer coat, usually of striped flannel, worn by tennis and cricket players. The ...

Bleaching

Bleaching. The process of freeing textile fibers and fabrics from their natural color, and rendering them white or nearly so. The ...

Block-Printing

Block-Printing. There are two modes of printing calico, block-print ing and machine-printing. The former ...

Blonde Lace

Blonde Lace. Blonde laces were first made in 1745, and being produced of unbleached silk, were known as Nankins or ...

Bloom

Bloom. A term applied to velvets, when by dyeing they are said to glow with a warm color, or luster. Dyers claim that the most important ...

Bloomers

Bloomers. A peculiar and ridiculous costume for women introduced and advocated in 1850 by a Mrs. Bloomer of New York, the distinctive features of which were a ...

Blouse

Blouse. A light, loose upper garment, made of linen or cotton, worn by men as a ...

Boa

Boa. [From Latin boa, a large serpent] A long, serpent-like piece of fur or feathers, worn around the neck by ...

Bobbinet

Bobbinet. A machine-made cotton netting, consisting of parallel threads which form the warp, upon which two ...

Bocasine

Bocasine (Bok'-A-Sin). [From buckram]. A linen fabric woven so fine as to look like ...

Booking

Booking. A coarse woolen flannel or baize named from Booking, Essex county, England,...

Bolster

Bolster. Something on which to rest the head while reclining; specifically a long cylindrical cushion, stuffed with feathers, hair, ...

Bolt

Bolt. Any quantity of rolled or wrapped fabric. ...

Bolting Cloth

Bolting Cloth. A cloth of linen or silk used in mills for bolting or sifting meal ...

Bombast

Bombast. Cotton or other stuff of a soft, loose texture, used to ...

Bombazine

Bombazine (Bom-Ba-Zeen'). [From bombycina, made of silk] Originally a dress fabric ...

Bombyx

Bombyx. The caterpillar of the Bombyx mori is well known by the name of silk worm. When full grown it is three inches long. It feeds on the ...

Bombycinous

Bombycinous. Silken; made of silk; silky, feeling like silk; or, of the color of the silk-worm moth, of a pale yellow color. ...

Bone-Lace

Bone-Lace. Lace, usually of linen thread, made on a cushion with bobbins, and taking ...

Bonnet

Bonnet. [From Hindoo banat, woolen cloth or broadcloth] A form of head-covering worn by women out of doors. ...

Bookbinder's Cloth

Bookbinder's Cloth. A stiffly sized variety of cotton cloth, colored in every conceivable tint and ...

Bookfold

Bookfold. A piece of linen or cotton fabric containing 24 yards. ...

Bookmuslin

Bookmuslin, A glazed, starchy, transparent muslin, used for the covering of library books or lining of dresses; very similar to ...

Boots And Shoes

Boots And Shoes, From the earliest times a comfortable covering for the feet has been one of man's first necessities upon emerging from savagery. As he ...

Bootee

Bootee (Boot-Ee'). A trade-name for a half or short boot for women. ...

Boot-Powder

Boot-Powder. Massive talc, or soapstone reduced to powder, used to dust the inside of a new or tightly-fitting shoe, to facilitate drawing it on. ...

Boucla

Boucla (Boo-Clay' ). A style of weaving in which a rough, knotted surface is produced. These bunches or knots are formed in the ...

Bowing

Bowing (Bo'-Ing). The old process of preparing the fur for the body of a felt hat. Usually about 3 ounces of ...

Box Coat

Box Coat. Early in the present century an overcoat with a cape, intended for drivers or travelers on the ...

Box-Plait

Box-Plait. A double fold or plait, as on a shirt bosom or a woman's dress; a method of ...

Braid

Braid. A narrow textile band or tape formed by plaiting or knitting together several ...

Brandenburgs

Brandenburgs. [Named from Brandenbourg, in Germany] A variety of ornamental buttons formed somewhat in the shape of a long, narrow ...

Breakfast Shawl

Breakfast Shawl. A small, square checked shawl, folded diagonally and worn around the neck by women. ...

Breast Clout

Breast Clout. A bib. ...

Breech Clout

Breech Clout. A cloth of any description, covering the breech and loins of Indians, Africans and other uncivilized peoples. ...

Breeches

Breeches. A bifurcated garment formerly worn to cover but the hips and thighs; improperly used in the sense of ...

Bride

Bride. In lace making and needle work a loop, link or tie connecting two different parts of the work together. [...

Broad Lace

Broad Lace. A wool lace or embroidery made in bands about four inches wide and ...

Broadcloth

Broadcloth. A fine woolen cloth, commonly black, with a smooth, glossy surface, principally used in making men's ...

Brocade

Brocade. A fabric woven of any material or combination of colors, in which a design of flowers or foliage is ...

Brocaded

Brocaded. This term is used to describe a fabric upon the surface of which a figure of any kind is formed by the threads of the ...

Brocatel

Brocatel (Broc-A-Tel'). A coarse or inferior brocade or figured fabric, commonly made of ...

Broche

Broche (Bro-Sha'). [From French broach, to sew or stitch]. Broche properly means sewed or stitched; or, any style of weaving ...

Broche Shawl

Broche Shawl (Bro-Sha'). A variety made in imitation of genuine Cashmere shawls, distinguished by its cone ...

Brush Hat

Brush Hat. The old-fashioned brush hats were made of beaver fur, first made into a felt ...

Buckle

Buckle. A metal appliance for fastening together different articles and portions of dress. The origin of the buckle is clouded in a great ...

Buckram

Buckram. [Said by some etymologists to have been derived from bucca, a hole, from the fabric being woven loosely and open, and afterward ...

Buckskin

Buckskin. A soft kind of glove leather, yellowish or blue-gray in color, made originally by tanning deer-skins with oil and wood-smoke, ...

Buff

Buff. A kind of thick, uncolored leather, originally and properly made of the skin of the buffalo, whence its name, but since the extinction of this animal, made of ...

Buff Coat

Buff Coat. A military coat made of buff-leather, in favor at the time of the English civil wars. The buff ...

Buffing

Buffing. The operation of diminishing the thickness of a hide of leather by means of a currier's knife or splitting machine, for the purpose of increasing the ...

Bugle

Bugle (Bu'-Gle). A shiny, elongated glass bead, usually black, used for decorating female apparel. Bugle trimming consists of these glass ornaments attached to a ...

Bullion-Fringe

Bullion-Fringe. A fringe of thick twisted cords, such as will hang heavily, covered with fine gold or silver ...

Bunting

Bunting. A light loosely-woven single width worsted dress goods, woven both plain and laced. Bunting is also ...

Burlap

Burlap. A coarse, heavy material made of jute, flax, hemp or man-lila, and used for ...

Burl

Burl. To pick knots, loose threads, burrs, etc. from, as in finishing cloth. To cleanse cloth, as with fuller's earth or a similar ...

Buskin

Buskin (Bus'-Kin). [From bore's-skin, of which they were first made] A half-boot or shoe, strapped or laced to the ankle and the lower part of the leg, ...

Bustle

Bustle. Derived from busk, which in the 16th century is described as being a flexible strip of whalebone or other stiffened ...

Butcher's Linen

Butcher's Linen. A coarse and heavy bleached linen material, used principally as a backing for shirt ...

Butter-Cloth

Butter-Cloth. A thin and open unsized muslin, used by dairymen to wrap their rolls of butter; similar to cheezecloth. ...

Buttons

Buttons. [Fr. bouton, from bout, end, extremity, bud]. A catch of various forms and materials, used to fasten together the different parts of ...

Caddis

Caddis (Cad'-Is). A coarse serge. The variegated stuff worn by the Highlanders of Scotland. ...

Cadet Gloves

Cadet Gloves. See Gloves. ...

Calender

Calender. A machine consisting of two or more steel cylinders revolving very nearly in contact, between which is passed a woven fabric, ...

Calfskin

Calfskin. The best calfskin is tanned in France, with the liquor extracted from the bark of the evergreen oak, a species indigenous to that country. One single ...

Calico

Calico. The word calico has a queer origin. Many centuries ago the first monarch of the province of Malabar gave to one of his chiefs, as a reward for ...

Cambrasiue

Cambrasiue (Cam'-Bra-Zene). A name given to batiste and cambric of fine quality. ...

Cambric

Cambric. The town of Cambria, France, was long famous for its manufactures of fine muslins. Here in 1520, was first made a fine thin ...

Cameline

Cameline (Cam'-E-Lin). A fabric used centuries ago as a material for dress. It is commonly said to have been ...

Camel's Hair

Camel's Hair. The fiber known as Camel's hair comes from Southern Asiatic Russia, Tartary, and Africa; the quality from the latter ...

Camel's Hair Shawls

Camel's Hair Shawls. The cashmere shawl, which is made of the fine hair of the Cashmere goat, is ...

Camlet

Camlet. A rich fabric used for dress as early as the thirteenth century. It was more costly and finer than ...

Canton Flannel

Canton Flannel. A cotton cloth napped heavily on one side, used chiefly for under garments and bandages. ...

Canvas

Canvas. [From L. Cannabis, hemp] Originally canvas meant any coarse texture woven of hempen ...

Cap

Cap. See Hats and Caps; Baby Caps. ...

Cape

Cape. A circular covering for the shoulders and adjacent parts, either separate or attached to the top of a garment. Any short circular ...

Capote

Capote. A loose, roomy cloak for ladies, properly with a cape and hood, but without sleeves, made of light ...

Cappadine

Cappadine (Cap'-A-Din). A sort of silk flock taken from the upper part of the silkworm's cocoon after the true ...

Capuchin

Capuchin (Cap'-U-Chin). A large loose hood worn by the women of the 18th century; also a hooded cloak of the same ...

Cardigan Jacket

Cardigan Jacket. A coarse, heavy, rib-knitted worsted or cotton jacket for ...

Carding

Carding. The process of opening and combing wool, flax, hemp, ...

Cardinal

Cardinal. A member of the Sacred College, a body of Roman Catholic ecclesiastics who rank in dignity next to the Pope and act as his counselors in the government ...

Carpets

Carpets. A heavy woven or felted fabric, usually of wool, but also of cotton, ...

Cashmere

Cashmere (Kash'-Mere). [Also written cachemere (and with altered form and sense cassimere and kersymere); so-called because first ...

Cashmere Chevron

Cashmere Chevron. See Cote de Cheval. ...

Cashmere Shawls

Cashmere Shawls. [Also called India shawls, and sometimes erroneously termed camels' hair shawls] These wonderfully ...

Cassimere

Cassimere. [From Cashmere] A general term applied to a class of all wool cloths used for men's clothing, ...

Cassinette

Cassinette. [From Cashmere.'] A cloth for men's wear made with a cotton ...

Cassock

Cassock. A loose form of cloak or outer coat, particularly a military one, worn by men. Also a long clerical coat, buttoned over the ...

Castor

Castor. The beaver, and by extension the fur or hide of a beaver. The fur of the Castor beaver is used in the ...

Catgut

Catgut. A sort of linen canvas with wide interstices. The intestines of sheep, dried and twisted, used for ...

Celluloid

Celluloid. A combination of gun cotton and camphor. Its successful manufacture and introduction has ...

Challi

Challi (Shal'-I). A name originally given to a superior dress fabric of silk and ...

Chambray

Chambray, A variety of plain-woven ginghams, always of one color and without pattern. It is made of extra fine cotton yarns and stiffly ...

Channeling Machine

Channeling Machine. A machine for cutting the channel in the soles of shoes and boots, into which the ...

Chasuble

Chasuble (Chas'-U-Ble). A sleeveless vestment or coat, devoid of buttons or other fastening, and provided with ...

Check

Check. In textile fabrics a pattern of squares of alternate colors. Properly, a check ...

Cheese-Cloth

Cheese-Cloth. A thin, limp muslin, bleached or brown, used by dairy-men to cover their cheese. A variety of cheese-...

Chemise

Chemise (She-Mez'). [From Arabic camis, shirt] The innermost garment worn by women, anciently known as a ...

Chemisette

Chemisette. [Diminutive of chemise]. An article used by ladies for covering the neck, made of some light ...

Chenille

Chenille (She-Neel' ). [French for caterpillar.] A beautiful description of cord used for embroidery and decorative ...

Chenille Cloth

Chenille Cloth. A fabric made with a fringed silken thread used as a weft, in ...

Cheviot

Cheviot. A twill-woven, napped woolen cloth, originally made from the wool ...

Cheviot Shirting

Cheviot Shirting. A term which formerly signified a cotton fabric free from starch or dressing, but ...

Chiffon

Chiffon (Shif'-On. French pron. she-fon'). A variety of thin transparent silk gauze woven so fine and ...

Chijimi

Chijimi (Chi-Je'-Ma). A variety of Japanese drapery siik, dyed in fast colors; in width thirty inches. ...

China Silk

China Silk. A term applied to the plain silks woven in China, Japan and India on the primitive hand looms of those countries. The warp ...

Chinchilla

Chinchilla. The Indian name for a squirrel-like animal found in the mountains of South America. The ancient Peruivans were accustomed to employ the ...

Chine Sheen

Chine Sheen;. (French Pron she-na'). [From the Fr. chiner, color, dye] A term applied to the fabrics in which the warp is dyed in ...

Chintz

Chintz (Hindoo Chhint, spotted). Cotton cloth printed with flowers or other patterns of bright ...

Chudder

Chudder. [From Hindoo chaddar, mantle, shawl]. The name given in Europe to the plain shawls of ...

Cladding

Cladding. [From clad, to clothe]. A word sometimes used for clothes and clothing. ...

Claith

Claith. A Scotch word for cloth. ...

Clamp-Dyeing

Clamp-Dyeing. See Flags. ...

Clerk

Clerk. [From Latin clericus, clergyman, priest, whence our words clerical, clergy, ecclesiastic, clerk, etc]. In its original sense a learned man; a man of letters; ...

Clan Tartans

Clan Tartans. [It. tartantanna, linsey-woolsey, or cloth of different materials and ...

Clay Worsted

Clay Worsted. A variety of flat-twilled worsted woven with a twill similar to that of ...

Cloaks

Cloaks. [Originally spelled clokke and until recently cloke. The word is derived from clock, which piece of mechanism, when first made, ...

Clock

Clock. [From Ang.-Sax. clokke, a time-piece, which, in its original form, was bell-shaped]. A term applied first in 1543 to a bell-shaped ornament or flower upon ...

Cloth

Cloth, [Formerly cloath, origin uncertain] A fabric or texture of wool or hair, or of ...

Clothes

Clothes. Garments for the human body. Dress; vestments; raiment; vesture; clothing; personal attire. According ...

Clothier

Clothier. A retail dealer in ready-made clothes for men; a clothing merchant. Merchants sold ...

Cloth Measure

Cloth Measure. A standard system formerly employed for measuring the length and surface of cloth sold by the ...

Cloth Of Gold

Cloth Of Gold. A splendid fabric of very ancient origin, first mentioned in Deuteronomy XXXIX, 3: And they did beat the gold ...

Coal Tar Colors

Coal Tar Colors. A name given to a numerous class of colors derived from coal tar by various complex chemical methods. From ...

Coat

Coat. A principal outer garment; any covering for the body. Specifically an outer garment worn by men, covering the upper part of the body....

Coburg

Coburg. A thin dress fabric woven of worsted and cotton, ...

Cochineal

Cochineal (Kotch'-I-Neal). A dyestuff consisting of the dried bodies of a species of insects. It colors a brilliant crimson, which can ...

Cocked Hat

Cocked Hat. A hat turned up evenly on three sides, such as naval and military officers wear on full-dress occasions. Such hats were in ...

Cockle

Cockle. [Derived from cockle-shell, which is a variety having wrinkles or crimps over its surface] A term in trade signifying to pucker or contract into wrinkles; ...

Cocoa Fibre

Cocoa Fibre. Cocoa matting and cocoa carpeting are made of what is. technically called coir, which is the ...

Coiffure

Coiffure (Koif'-Ur; . French Pron kwo'-fur). A head-dress; the manner of arranging or dressing the hair. ...

Collar

Collar. [From Latin collum, the neck] Originally a peculiar badge worn around the neck by Knights of different orders. It consisted of a gold chain, enameled, etc.,...

Collars And Cuffs

Collars And Cuffs. Articles of attire for both men and women, made usually of linen, and starched. The quality is denoted by ...

Colors

Colors. In its relation to textiles, color is that quality or appearance of a fabric which is perceived by the eye alone independently of ...

Combing Wool

Combing Wool. See Wool, Worsteds. ...

Comforts

Comforts. The history of the manufacture of comforts, or bed comfortables as they were ...

Commission Merchant

Commission Merchant. An individual or firm who sells goods on a per cent, either in his own name or in the name of the foreign or domestic ...

Composition Cloth

Composition Cloth. A material made from long flax, dressed with a chemical which renders it perfectly waterproof ; used for ...

Convent Cloth

Convent Cloth; An Extremely Light Weight Dress Fabric, with a silk ...

Cony Fur

Cony Fur (Co'-Ny). The fur of rabbits and other burrowing animals, used for making felt for hats, and also in the ...

Cope

Cope. A large, loose outer garment; a cloak; a mantle. A large mantle of silk or ...

Cordage And Twines

Cordage And Twines. Cordage is a general term for all kinds of hemp rope, from cables 12 inches in ...

Corded Fabrics

Corded Fabrics. A general term used in trade to signify reps, Bedford and whipcord, pipecord, ...

Cordovan

Cordovan (Cor'-Do-Van). [From Cordova, a. city of Spain, where it was first made] Leather made from the hides of horses. Also called cord-wain. ...

Corduroy

Corduroy (Cor-Du-Roi'). [French cor du roi, royal cord or King's cord ]. A heavy cotton material, corded or ribbed on the surface. It ...

Cork

Cork. A species of oak, growing in the south of Europe, especially in Spain and Portugal and in the north of Africa, having a thick, rough bark, for the sake of ...

Cork Leather

Cork Leather. A variety formed of two sheets of leather with a thin layer of cork between them, the whole being glued and pressed ...

Corkscrew Worsted

Corkscrew Worsted. [So-called from its fancied resemblance to the twists of a corkscrew] A particular weave which has for several years been extensively ...

Corset

Corset. [French corse, body; Latin corsetus, a close-fitting garment] A close-fitting waist, usually made of ...

Corset Jean

Corset Jean. A double-fold, calendered cotton drilling, used principally in the ...

Cote De Cheval

Cote De Cheval (Cote De Chee'-Val). A light-weight wool dress fabric, with a ...

Cotton

Cotton. Among all the materials which the skill of man converts into comfortable and elegant clothing, that which appears to be the most extensively useful, though ...

Carding Of Cotton

Carding Of Cotton is the process of disentangling and arranging in parallel rows the fibres of the cotton so as to facilitate ...

Cotton Flannel

Cotton Flannel. See Canton Flannel. ...

Cotton Damask

Cotton Damask. A material woven in different colors, used for curtains and ...

Cotton Rep

Cotton Rep. A heavy, corded cotton cloth used for the lining of curtains, etc. ...

Cotton Wadding

Cotton Wadding. See Wadding. ...

Cotton Velvet

Cotton Velvet. See Velveteen. ...

Cottonade

Cottonade. A coarse heavy variety of cotton cloth, woven plain or twilled, used for men's cheap clothing. Of ...

Countermand

Countermand. [Latin contra, against, mandare, command]. An order in direct opposition to an order previously given, thereby annulling it and forbidding its ...

Counterpane

Counterpane. [A corruption of French counterpoint, point against point, in allusion to the panes or squares of which bed covers were often composed] The top ...

Coventry Blue

Coventry Blue. Thread principally used for purposes of embroidery,of a vivid blue, very popular in ...

Coverlet

Coverlet. Quilt, coverlid, coverlet, counterpoint and counterpane at different times have been used to ...

Cowl

Cowl. A hood attached to a gown or robe, and admitting of being drawn over the head or of being worn hanging on the ...

Crape

Crape. [The same word as French crepe, formerly spelled crespe, from Latin crespus, crisp, curled, frizzled] A thin, semi-transparent ...

Crape Cloth

Crape Cloth. An all-wool dress fabric, dyed in all colors....

Crash

Crash. A general term used to denote a strong coarse linen fabric; chiefly used for toweling, tarpaulins, packing,...

Cravat

Cravat. [From German crabat] A piece of folded silk, satin or other material worn about the neck, generally ...

Cravenette

Cravenette (Crav-En-Et'). A system of water-proofing woolen fabrics. It is applied to a large variety of materials, which are used in the ...

Crazy-Quilt

Crazy-Quilt. A kind of patch-work quilt, in which irregular pieces of silk and other material are applied ...

Crepe De Chine

Crepe De Chine (Crape De Sheen). A variety of extremely thin and highly lustrous crape dress-...

Crepe-Lisse

Crepe-Lisse (Crape-Leece). A fine thin silk material, plain woven; used for women's ruching, dresses, etc. [...

Crepon

Crepon (Crep'-On Or Cre-Pon'). A dress fabric resembling crape but not so thin and ...

Cretonne

Cretonne (Cre-Ton'). [Derived from the name of the first maker, M. Cretonne, of Paris]. Originally a strong white fabric of hempen ...

Crewel

Crewel. [From German clew, a ball of thread]. A kind of fine worsted yarn, used in ...

Cricket Flannel

Cricket Flannel. See Flannel. ...

Crinoline

Crinoline. [Fr. crinoline, hair cloth, from Latin crinis, hair and linum, linen]. When first invented ...

Crofting

Crofting, The process of bleaching linen by exposure to the air on grass. This method in Ireland and ...

Crown Lining

Crown Lining. Fine crinoline or stiff tarlatan, used by milliners for lining the crowns of ladies' ...

Curtains

Curtains. See Holland, Lace Curtains. ...

Cut Cashmere

Cut Cashmere. A variety of twilled, double fold dress goods, distinguished by the presence of fine sunken ...

Damask

Damask. A textile fabric woven in elaborate patterns, of various designs, as flowers, leaves, foliage, etc., ...

Damasked

Damasked. Fabrics ornamented on the surface with flowers or other patterns having a running figure, produced by weaving and not by ...

Damasse

Damasse (Da-Ma-Sa'). Woven with a rich pattern, as of flowers or large running figures: said of certain silks for ladies' wear. ...

Damassin

Damassin (Dam'-A-Sin). A kind of damask with gold and silver flowers woven in the warp and woof; an ornamental ...

Darning Needles

Darning Needles. A long needle with a large eye, used for darning with yarn or heavy ...

De Beige

De Beige (De-Bazh'). See Beige. ...

Delaine

Delaine (De-Lane'). [French mousseline de laine, muslin of wool]. An expressive title which signifies fully what ...

Demi-Castor

Demi-Castor. An inferior quality of beaver fur ; hence, a hat made of beaver of this quality. ...

Denim

Denim. [A trade name; origin unknown]. A coarse cotton twilled material used for men's overalls and working ...

Designing

Designing. A figure or representation of some character must be originated and drawn suited to every class of cloth that is woven. This ...

Diagonal

Diagonal. A term introduced in the United States in the year 1875 denoting a variety of worsteds used in the manufacture of men's ...

Diaper

Diaper. In this term we have an example of a fabric possessed of a proud ancestry, in its time second to none in the family of splendid ...

Diced

Diced. A term descriptive of a pattern woven in cubes or squares -that is, with the sides of the cubes or squares shaded by the run of the ...

Dickey

Dickey. A separate shirt-front worn over the breast in place of a shirt, or to hide a shirt not fit to be seen. These were at one time ...

Dimity

Dimity (Dim-' I-Ty). [Supposed by early authorities to have been derived from Damietta, Egypt, where the fabric was once manufactured of ...

Discharging

Discharging. A method employed in calico and silk printing for the purpose of imprinting a pattern upon a ...

Discount

Discount. A part deducted from the count; hence in trade an allowance or deduction, generally of so much per cent., made for prepayment or prompt payment of a ...

Distaff

Distaff. The staff or stick which holds the carded material in hand spinning. Generally it was a stick about 3 feet long ...

Ditto

Ditto. [From Italian ditto, meaning that which has been said, Latin dictum, said] A duplicate. The same thing. Abbreviated do, and is also expressed by two inverted ...

Dobby-Machine

Dobby-Machine. A loom built purposely for weaving fancy patterns, constructed on a principle similar to ...

Doeskin

Doeskin. [So called from the fancied resemblance of the fabric to the skin of a doe, on account of its softness and pliability]. A ...

Doe; Cheap

Doe; Cheap. [Early English dogge cheape and dog chepe, from dog, as a type of worthlessness]. Very cheap; in little estimation. ...

Dogskin

Dogskin. A term applied for the purpose of deception to a variety of sheepskin leather. It is somewhat thicker than the leather of which ...

Dolly Varden

Dolly Varden. [From Dolly Varden, a character in Dickens' Barnaby Rudge.] A gay-flowered calico worn from 1865 to ...

Dolman

Dolman. [From Turkish dalama, a long robe open in front, worn by the Turks over their outer garments]. A style of ladies' winter wrap, characterized by a hanging ...

Domet

Domet. A soft, loosely woven material similar in construction to flannel, napped slightly upon either side. ...

Donsky

Donsky. [Russian Donskoi, of the river Don]. A variety of Russian wool of coarse quality introduced into English and American woolen ...

Dornick

Dornick. A term now used for stout linen cloth, especially checkered table linen ...

Double-Dyeing

Double-Dyeing. A method of dyeing mixed woolen and cotton goods, by which the ...

Double-Faced

Double-Faced. Cloth having both surfaces finished, so that either may be used as the right side. ...

Doublet

Doublet. An outer body-garment such as was worn by men from about the end of the fifteenth century until the middle of the seventeenth ...

Dowlas

Dowlas (Dow' Las). Like the names of many other cloths, dowlas is from a town-name, said to be from Doullens, a town in the department of Somme, France. Until the ...

Down

Down. The fine, soft covering of fowls under the feathers, particularly that of swans, ducks, geese, and other water-fowls. ...

Doyley

Doyley. [Also spelled doi'-ley. Said to be so called from the name of its first maker, Sir Jno. D'Oyley] A fringed napkin, made of ...

Drap De Alma

Drap De Alma (Drap-De A'L-Ma). A fine close, flat-twilled dress fabric of wool, or ...

Drap De Te

Drap De Te (Drah-De-Ta'). A species of worsted dress goods, woven in fine longitudinal cords, sometimes ...

Draper

Draper. Drap is a French word meaning cloth, and draper in England, and drapier in France are the terms used in ...

Drapery

Drapery. The occupation of a draper; the trade of making or of selling cloth. Cloth or ...

Drap Sanglier

Drap Sanglier (Drap San'-Glier). A loosely-made, all-wool French dress fabric, 44 ...

Drawing-Frame

Drawing-Frame. A machine in which the slivers of cotton, wool, etc., from the ...

Drawn-Work

Drawn-Work. A kind of ornamental work done in tidies, towels, etc., by cutting out, pulling out, or drawing to one side some of the threads of the ...

Dress

Dress. A garment or the assemblage of garments used as a covering for the body or for its adornment; clothes;...

Drilling

Drilling. [German drillich (from drei, three), a 3-cord fabric] A twilled material of either linen or ...

Drugget

Drugget. [From French droguet, trash]. A large square rug or mat, felted or woven, either of one color or printed on one side, and used as ...

Drummer

Drummer. A commercial traveler who is an agent or representative of a manufacturer, importer or other wholesale dealer who procures and transmits orders for the ...

Dry Goods

Dry Goods. Textile fabrics, and related articles of trade; as, cloth, shawls, wraps, ready-made garments, ...

Duck

Duck. [From Swed. duk, cloth] A strong linen fabric, plain-woven, without ...

Due-Bill

Due-Bill. A brief written acknowledgment of indebtedness differing from a promissory note in not being payable to order or transferable by mere indorsement. ...

Dundee Goods

Dundee Goods. A term applied to a large class of coarse fabrics of flax, hemp and ...

Dupion

Dupion (Du'Pion). A double cocoon formed by two silk worms spinning together. The coarse ...

Dyeing

Dyeing. The art of coloring fabrics by immersion in a properly prepared bath. The matters used for dyeing are obtained from vegetables, animals and minerals, and ...

Ec'Ru

Ec'Ru (Eck'-Ru). [French ecru, raw or unbleached when applied to linen, silk or other ...

Edging

Edging. Narrow lace or embroidery especially made for trimming frills and parts of ...

Egyptian Cotton

Egyptian Cotton. Cotton raised in Egypt, of a yellowish color and superior quality, not as fine and silky as the Sea Island ...

Eider-Down

Eider-Down. Down or soft feathers of the eider-duck, such as the bird plucks from ...

Eiderdown Cloth

Eiderdown Cloth. A heavy-napped woolen fabric invented in 1882, by Mr. Robert Ward, of Philadelphia, and extensively used in the ...

Elastic Web

Elastic Web. A material for suspenders, garters, etc., made in bands from half an inch to twelve inches in width. The slender ...

Electoral Cloth Or Biretz

Electoral Cloth Or Biretz. A double-faced dress fabric woven ...

Ell

Ell. A long measure, chiefly used for cloth, of different lengths in different countries. The English ell, not yet ...

Embossed Velvet

Embossed Velvet. See Velvet. ...

Embossed Felt

Embossed Felt. An upholstering material; used for table covers, borders, friezes, or dados for applique purposes. Ordinary thick ...

Embroidery

Embroidery. The art of working with the needle flowers, leaves, vines and other forms, upon wool, ...

Embroidery Silk

Embroidery Silk. The fancy colors are usually put up 10 yards to a spool, each spool being equal to four ordinary cards or ...

Empress Cloth

Empress Cloth. [So called on account of the weave having been originated for, and worn first by the Empress Eugenia, of France]. A variety of ...

Empress Gauze

Empress Gauze. A fine, transparent stuff, made of silk, or silk and linen, and ...

Epingle

Epingle (Ep'In-Gle). [French epingle, a slender pin wire] A descriptive term for a variety of thin silk, woven with ...

Equestrian Tights

Equestrian Tights. A woman's knit undergarments, consisting of drawers and stockings combined, reaching to the ...

Ermine

Ermine. A small quadruped inhabiting the northern regions of Europe and America. The fur of the animal is snow white, with the tip of the ...

Estamene

Estamene (Es'-Ta-Mene'). An all-wool French dress fabric woven similar to ...

Estamin

Estamin (Es-Tam'-In). A woolen stuff made in Prussia, used for sack cloth, ...

Etamine

Etamine (Et'-A-Mine). A coarse description of woolen bunting or canvas, of a more or less transparent ...

Everlasting

Everlasting. A variety of very durable white cotton edging, distinguished by being made in rows of ...

Fabric

Fabric. [From Latin fabricus, a work shop] A woven or felted cloth of any material or style of weaving; ...

Factory

Factory. A term which originally implied the residence of factors; that is, agents or brokers whose duty was to buy or sell goods for merchants who resided ...

Factory Cotton

Factory Cotton. Unbleached cotton muslin, as opposed to bleached or imported fabrics; called also ...

Factory Yarn

Factory Yarn. Coarse 2-ply or 3-ply unscoured woolen yarn, or yarn in the grease. It is usually ...