ruche

American  

[roosh] / ruʃ /

noun

1. a strip of pleated lace, net, muslin, or other material for trimming or finishing a dress, as at the collar or sleeves.

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ruche British  

/ ruːʃ /

noun

1. a strip of pleated or frilled lawn, lace, etc, used to decorate blouses, dresses, etc, or worn around the neck like a small ruff as in the 16th century

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Usage

What does ruche mean? A ruche is a strip of material used to finish a dress, as in Paula decided to add lace ruche to the dress’s sleeves. A ruche is a decorative piece of fabric used to finish a dress on the ends. Typically, a ruche is placed on the collar or sleeves of a dress as a way to draw attention to those areas and complete a design. A traditional ruche is made by pleating the fabric already present at the top of the dress or gathering it into small folds, but it can also be made out of pleated fabric that is added on top of the dress fabric. Ruches are often made from lace, net, or muslin but can be made from any material that can be pleated and sewn on the garment’s fabric. To ruche means to gather or pleat fabric into a ruche, as in Franny struggled to ruche the lace for the wedding gown. Example: Vlad used a bright-colored ruche on the dress sleeves to make the dress pop.

Other Word Forms

• ruched adjective
• ruching noun

Etymology

Origin of ruche

1820–30; < French: literally, beehive < Gallo-Romance *rūsca bark, apparently < Gaulish; compare Welsh rhisg ( l ) bark, rind

Example Sentences

Oprah Winfrey made a red carpet appearance in a ruche nude chiffon frock from Vera Wang.

From Forbes • Feb. 22, 2015

The work-bag is trimmed on the outside with a ruche of blue satin ribbon seven-eighths of an inch wide.

From Harper's Young People, May 18, 1880 An Illustrated Weekly by Various

I saw no ornaments, save a wreath below the high, full, white ruche at the throat, perhaps of geranium leaves, and a full bouquet of pink rosebuds in the right hand.

From In and Around Berlin by Norton, Minerva Brace

The ruche was also adopted by chancellors, notaries and scribes as their official mark.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

And Clara laid the delicate flowers among the blonde behind, where the effect was unmarred by the over-red cheeks, and nothing but a soft ruche lay over the dark hair in front.

From Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5 Jimmy's Cruise in the Pinafore, Etc. by Alcott, Louisa May

Related Words

• bend
• crimp
• curl
• knit
• tuck