A coarse woolen fabric, typically undyed or dyed brown, used for making rough clothing or household textiles.
From Old French burel, possibly derived from bure 'baize' with a diminutive suffix. The term dates to medieval times when such rough fabrics were common for working-class garments.
Medieval peasants wore burel, and so did monks—rough, sturdy, and honest fabric that required no bleaching or fancy dyes, which meant it was affordable for ordinary people.
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