A lightweight cotton fabric woven in checks, stripes, or plaids, often in white and another color.
From Malay 'genggang' meaning 'striped,' which referred to a striped cotton cloth originally made in Southeast Asia. The word traveled through Dutch 'gingang' before entering English in the 17th century. The surprising twist is that this fabric associated with American country style and Dorothy's dress in 'The Wizard of Oz' actually has Malaysian roots and was named after the Indonesian technique of creating striped patterns.
Gingham became the unofficial uniform of American farm women and schoolgirls because it was cheap, durable, and the patterns hid dirt well. The red-and-white checkered tablecloth that screams 'picnic' to Americans is actually a gingham pattern that originated in Malaysian weaving traditions.
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