A surname of English origin, or a test method for measuring fabric abrasion resistance. A geographical location name in various English-speaking countries.
From Old English, combining 'martin' (possibly from the saint's name or the bird) with 'dale' meaning valley. As a place name, it literally means 'Martin's valley' or 'valley of the martins'.
The Martindale abrasion test, named after its inventor, has become so standard in textile testing that the word itself has become synonymous with fabric durability measurements - a perfect example of an eponym in technical vocabulary.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.