Definition
The act of adding decorative ruffles, frills, or other ornamental trim to clothing or fabric.
Etymology
From furbelow + the -ing suffix, indicating continuous action; follows the pattern of the French falbala meaning ruffle or flounce.
Kelly Says
Furbelowing was serious business in Victorian fashion—seamstresses would spend hours creating these elaborate decorative elements, and a woman's dress might have yards of furbelowed trim!
Translations
ARالعربية
زخرفة
zakh-raf-ah
CACatalà
adornació
a-dor-na-syo
CSČeština
ozdoba
oz-do-ba
DEDeutsch
Verzierung
fer-tsay-rung
ELΕλληνικά
διακόσμηση
dia-ko-s-me-si
ESEspañol
abarcar
a-bar-kar
FISuomi
koristelu
kor-i-ste-lu
FRFrançais
ornementation
or-ne-man-ta-syon
HIहिन्दी
सजावट
sa-ja-va-t
HUMagyar
díszítés
dish-ee-tes
IDBahasa Indonesia
hiasan
hee-a-san
ITItaliano
ornamento
or-na-men-to
KKKK
süsleme
soo-slay-meh
MSBahasa Melayu
hiasan
hee-a-san
MYမြန်မာ
ပြုပ်ပြင်
pyu-pyin
NLNederlands
versiering
ver-si-ring
PTPortuguês
adereço
a-dresh-u
RORomână
decorare
de-co-ra-re
RUРусский
украшение
ukrashenie
SVSvenska
prydnad
pree-d-nad
SWKiswahili
mapambo
ma-pam-bo
TAதமிழ்
அலங்காரம்
ala-nga-ka-ram
TEతెలుగు
చిత్రీకరణ
chithri-ka-ra-na
THไทย
การตกแต่ง
gaan-dtok-dtaeng
TLTL
palamuti
pa-la-mu-ti
TRTürkçe
süsleme
soo-slay-meh
UKУкраїнська
прикраса
pry-kra-sa
VITiếng Việt
trang trí
trang-tri
YOYO
àwọn ẹ̀rọ
awon eh-roh
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Verb form carries forward the gendered dismissal of ornamental textile work, often implied as trivial or wasteful activity stereotypically assigned to women.
Inclusive Usage
Use for the actual craft practice; avoid using mockingly about people's activities or time allocation.