Tweed is a rough, thick woolen fabric, often woven with mixed colors to create a speckled look. It is commonly used for jackets, coats, and suits.
Possibly from a misreading of Scottish "tweel" (twill) as "tweed" on a cloth merchant’s label, influenced by the River Tweed in Scotland. The name stuck and became associated with the fabric style.
Tweed may be the result of a spelling mistake that turned "twill" into a fabric named after a river. Its speckled look comes from weaving different colored yarns together, which also helps hide dirt—very practical for the countryside.
Tweed has been associated with classed and sometimes gendered dress codes (e.g., male academics or country gentlemen), though it is used in clothing for all genders. The associations come from fashion history, not the fabric itself.
Use 'tweed' neutrally for fabric or garments without stereotyping the wearer’s gender, class, or profession.
["wool fabric","patterned wool","tweed fabric"]
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.