damask

American  

[dam-uhsk] / ˈdæm əsk /

noun

1. a reversible fabric of linen, silk, cotton, or wool, woven with patterns.

2. napery of this material.

3. Metallurgy.

   1. Also called damask steel.  Damascus steel.

   2. the pattern or wavy appearance peculiar to the surface of such steel.

4. the pink color of the damask rose.

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adjective

1. made of or resembling damask.

   damask cloth.

2. of the pink color of the damask rose.

verb (used with object)

damasks, present (3rd person singular) damasked, past participle, past damasking present participle

1. to damascene.

2. to weave or adorn with elaborate design, as damask cloth.

damask British  

/ ˈdæməsk /

noun

1. 1. a reversible fabric, usually silk or linen, with a pattern woven into it. It is used for table linen, curtains, etc

   2. table linen made from this

   3. ( as modifier )

      a damask tablecloth

2. short for Damascus steel

3. the wavy markings on such steel

4. 1. the greyish-pink colour of the damask rose

   2. ( as adjective )

      damask wallpaper

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verb

1. (tr) another word for damascene

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undamasked
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have damasked
  perfect
• has damasked
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been damasking
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are damasking
  progressive
• have been damasking
  perfect progressive
• am damasking
  progressive 1st person singular
• is damasking
  progressive 3rd person singular
• damasking
  participle
• damasks
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had damasked
  perfect
• was damasking
  progressive singular
• were damasking
  progressive plural
• had been damasking
  perfect progressive
• damasked
  participle
• damasked
  simple

Future

• will damask
  simple
• will have damasked
  perfect
• will be damasking
  progressive
• will have been damasking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of damask

1200–50; Middle English damaske < Medieval Latin damascus, named after Damascus where fabrics were first made

Explanation

Damask is a luxurious, heavy fabric that's often used to upholster furniture. Your grandparents love their new kitten so much that they don't even mind her clawing holes in their damask curtains. The word damask comes from Damascus, the Syrian city where this kind of fabric was originally made — it literally means "cloth from Damascus." Damask was one of the main styles of weaving during the early Middle Ages, and it has been a popular choice for fancy clothing, table coverings, and home decor ever since. Today some damask is made of synthetic material, but historically it was most often made from silk.

Related Words

• bedding
• cloth
• lingerie