Ballatoon

/ˌbæləˈtuːn/ noun

Definition

A low-quality or mock version of a baldachin or ornamental fabric; a cheap imitation of luxury cloth.

Etymology

A humorous or derogatory variant of 'baldachin' or 'ballaton,' possibly with a suffix suggesting something inferior or amusing.

Kelly Says

Medieval merchants apparently made fun of cheap imitations by creating this silly-sounding word—'ballatoon' probably made people laugh while describing fake versions of the expensive Baghdad fabrics.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.