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batik

or bat·tik

[buh-teek, bat-ik]
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noun
  1. a technique of hand-dyeing fabrics by using wax as a dye repellent to cover parts of a design, dyeing the uncovered fabric with a color or colors, and dissolving the wax in boiling water.
  2. the fabric so decorated.
verb (used with object)
  1. to hand-dye (material) using the technique of batik.

Origin of batik

First recorded in 1875–80, batik is from the Javanese word baṭik
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for batik

Historical Examples

  • May sat down on the couch among the batik pillows and made a place for him beside her.

    Narcissus

    Evelyn Scott

British Dictionary definitions for batik

batik

battik

noun
    1. a process of printing fabric in which parts not to be dyed are covered by wax
    2. fabric printed in this way
    3. (as modifier)a batik shirt

Word Origin

C19: via Malay from Javanese: painted
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for batik

n.

1880, from Dutch, from Malay mbatik, said to be from amba "to write" + titik "dot, point."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper