A type of rich fabric, likely silk or silk-like material, mentioned in medieval English literature and inventories.
From Old French 'ciclatoun' or similar variants, ultimately of uncertain origin but possibly related to Arabic 'dikla' (palm leaves) or similar eastern textile terminology. Used in English from the 13th-15th centuries for luxury fabrics imported or imitated from the East.
Ciclatoun appears in medieval inventories of royal and noble estates as a luxury item worth significant money—it was an imported or exclusive fabric that signaled wealth and status, similar to how we view designer materials today.
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