Bombasine

/bɒmˈbæziːn/ noun

Definition

A fabric woven with silk or worsted warp and cotton weft, creating a durable material used for clothing in earlier centuries.

Etymology

From French 'bombasine', derived from 'bombaz' (related to 'bombace'), the silky fiber. The suffix '-ine' indicates it's made from or resembles that material.

Kelly Says

Bombasine was the Victorian favorite for funeral clothes because it had a subtle sheen that looked appropriately somber—perfect for the 1800s when mourning clothes had to be taken seriously!

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