serge

¹ American  

[surj] / sɜrdʒ /

noun

1. a twilled worsted or woolen fabric used especially for clothing.

2. cotton, rayon, or silk in a twill weave.

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serge ² American  

[surj] / sɜrdʒ /

verb (used with object)

serged, serging

1. to overcast (unfinished seams or edges, as in a fabric or rug), especially by machine, in order to prevent fraying.

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Serge ³ American  

[surj, serzh] / sɜrdʒ, sɛrʒ /

noun

1. a male given name.

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serge British  

/ sɜːdʒ /

noun

1. a twill-weave woollen or worsted fabric used for clothing

2. a similar twilled cotton, silk, or rayon fabric

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Etymology

Origin of serge¹

1350–1400; < French; replacing Middle English sarge < Middle French < Vulgar Latin *sārica, for Latin sērica ( lāna ) Chinese (wool), i.e., silk; seric-

Origin of serge²

Perhaps to be identified with serge ¹, though sense shift is unclear

Example Sentences

Louise and Beatrice and I were up half the night every night, bringing down snippets of satin and serge that had fallen from the dressmakers’ scissors.

From Literature

He was a German Jewish refugee, a camp survivor, a prematurely aged, sweet-tempered man with rheumy eyes, who wore a double-breasted blue serge jacket, unbuttoned, and baggy brown pants.

From New York Times

For the girls, it was dotted Swiss and matching hair ribbons and sashes; for the boys, blue serge suits and Buster Brown collars, with red, generous bow ties.

From Literature

On Sunday he got up early in the morning and took from the suitcase his serge suit.

From Literature

She herself was in the dining room, pinning pattern pieces on a length of dark blue serge.

From Literature