Gaybine

/ɡeɪˈbaɪn/ noun

Definition

A unit of measurement for cloth or fabric, specifically a length of material; also called a gabion or gaban.

Etymology

From Old French gabion, possibly from Arabic or related to gabelle (tax). The word traveled through medieval trade terminology and appears in English textile industry documents.

Kelly Says

This is an incredibly obscure word from the cloth trade—it shows how specific industries develop their own vocabulary for precisely measuring things, and most of these technical terms disappear when the trade changes.

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