Baldoquin

/ˈbældəkwɪn/ noun

Definition

A rich fabric of silk and gold thread, or a canopy-like structure hung above an altar or throne, also spelled baldachin.

Etymology

From Italian 'baldacchino,' derived from Baghdad, the famous medieval city where this luxurious fabric was originally produced and traded.

Kelly Says

This word is a geographic origin story—Baghdad was so famous for its gorgeous golden fabrics in medieval times that European traders named the fabric after the city itself, and it became associated with royalty and sacred spaces.

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