Engrege

/ɛnˈɡriːʒ/ noun

Definition

A textile term referring to the unfinished state of fabric before bleaching, dyeing, or processing.

Etymology

From French 'en grège' or Italian 'en greggia,' meaning 'in the raw' or 'in the rough.' The term comes from Latin gregis (flock), referring to raw wool in its natural state before processing.

Kelly Says

The textile industry still uses this French term for raw fabric—it's one of those specialized vocabulary words that shows how some industries keep centuries-old terminology alive because it's perfectly precise and simply irreplaceable.

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