gabardine

American  

[gab-er-deen, gab-er-deen] / ˈgæb ərˌdin, ˌgæb ərˈdin /

noun

1. Also a firm, tightly woven fabric of worsted, cotton, polyester, or other fiber, with a twill weave.

2. gaberdine.

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gabardine British  

/ ˌɡæbəˈdiːn, ˈɡæbəˌdiːn /

noun

1. a twill-weave worsted, cotton, or spun-rayon fabric

2. an ankle-length loose coat or frock worn by men, esp by Jews, in the Middle Ages

3. any of various other garments made of gabardine, esp a child's raincoat

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Etymology

Origin of gabardine

Spelling variant of gaberdine

Explanation

Gabardine is a durable, tightly woven fabric that's often used for jackets and other outerwear. Grab your gabardine raincoat — it's pouring outside! Rain jackets and windbreakers were once so commonly made of gabardine that it's still routine in the U.K. to use the word as a synonym for "raincoat." The word gabardine dates back to the 16th century, but the men's clothing maker Thomas Burberry is usually credited with inventing and naming gabardine fabric in 1879. Some experts trace the word to an ancient Indian garment, the kaba.