bombazine

Also bom·ba·sine

[bom-buh-zeen, bom-buh-zeen]

noun

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

bombazine

/ ˌbɒmbəˈziːn, ˈbɒmbəˌziːn /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bombazine¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bombazine¹

C16: from Old French bombasin , from Latin bombӯcinus silken, from bombyx silkworm, silk; see _bombacaceous

Example Sentences

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

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

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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.

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The outfit also includes a black silk, taffeta and bombazine bodice, undergarments and a pair of small black boots.

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Black bombazine has been much used for mourning garments.

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