kiswah

[ kis-wah ]

noun

, Islam.

1. a decorative veil draped over the walls of the Kaʿba, now made of black brocade embroidered in gold with inscriptions from the Quran.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kiswah¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Arabic kiswat (al-Kaʿbah) literally, “pall (of the Cube)”

Example Sentences

Kusay's house was burnt, its cloth covering (or kiswah) catching fire from a torch.

From Project Gutenberg