challis

or chal·lie, chal·ly

[ shal-ee ]

noun
  1. a soft fabric of plain weave in wool, cotton, rayon, or other staple fiber, either in a solid color or, more often, a small print.

Origin of challis

1
First recorded in 1840–50; perhaps after Challis, a surname

Words Nearby challis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use challis in a sentence

  • She examined her challis anxiously, and sank back again, apparently relieved.

    Quicksilver Sue | Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards
  • French challis is a material similar to the above, though usually characterized by a more glossy finish.

    Textiles | William H. Dooley
  • Most challis patterns are copied from the French silks, and this accounts in part for their tasteful designs and artistic effects.

    Textiles | William H. Dooley
  • All wool challis does not differ essentially from the old-fashioned muslin delaine.

    Textiles | William H. Dooley
  • It is not entirely the fault of either Mr. or Mrs. challis that they separate; there is much to be said on both sides.

    Essays on Modern Novelists | William Lyon Phelps

British Dictionary definitions for challis

challis

challie (ˈʃælɪ)

/ (ˈʃælɪ, -lɪs) /


noun
  1. a lightweight plain-weave fabric of wool, cotton, etc, usually with a printed design

Origin of challis

1
C19: probably from a surname

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