bombazine

American  

[bom-buh-zeen, bom-buh-zeen] / ˌbɒm bəˈzin, ˈbɒm bəˌzin /

Also bombasine

noun

1. a twill fabric constructed of a silk or rayon warp and worsted filling, often dyed black for mourning wear.

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bombazine British  

/ ˌbɒmbəˈziːn, ˈbɒmbəˌziːn /

noun

1. a twilled fabric, esp one with a silk warp and worsted weft, formerly worn dyed black for mourning

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Etymology

Origin of bombazine

1545–55; earlier bombasin < Middle French < Medieval Latin bombasinum, variant of bombȳcinum, noun use of neuter of Latin bombȳcinus silken < Greek bombȳ́kinos, equivalent to bombȳk-, stem of bómbȳx “silkworm” + -inos -ine ¹

Example Sentences

“What a fine sight an old working man makes, in his patched bombazine suit with his bald head,” Vincent wrote.

From Reuters • Sep. 16, 2021

They emerge from their time, which is why Jacobeans saw ghosts wearing pale shrouds and Victorians saw them draped in black bombazine.

From New York Times • Oct. 22, 2018

Cour, pince-nezed and Tat-tersall-vested, impersonated "Monsieur Albert," who poses in caf� society as a rich joyeux gar�on�but fools nobody, because he has forgotten to remove his bombazine bookkeeper's sleeves.

From Time Magazine Archive

"I believe in sunshine, fresh air, spinach, applesauce, laughter, buttermilk, babies, bombazine and chiffon."

From Time Magazine Archive

The Ogilvie daughters, Colette and Jeannine, swept into the room, dressed in matching pink and yellow bombazine gowns, wearing their curled hair piled on top of their heads.

From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson