corduroy

[kawr-duh-roi, kawr-duh-roi]

noun

1. a cotton-filling pile fabric with lengthwise cords or ridges.

2. corduroys, trousers made of this fabric.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling corduroy.

2. constructed of logs laid together transversely, as a road across swampy ground.

verb (used with object)

1. to form (a road or the like) by laying logs transversely.

2. to make a corduroy road across or along.

corduroy

/ ˌkɔːdəˈrɔɪ, ˈkɔːdəˌrɔɪ /

noun

1. See also corduroys

   1. a heavy cotton pile fabric with lengthways ribs

   2. ( as modifier )

      a corduroy coat

Word History and Origins

Origin of corduroy¹

1780–90; perhaps cord ( cords ) + duroy, deroy (now obsolete) a woolen fabric originating in W England; later taken as French cord du roy the king's cords, though the fabric had no connection with France

Word History and Origins

Origin of corduroy¹

C18: perhaps from the proper name Corderoy

Example Sentences

As a young lad growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area town of Pittsburg, my school uniform consisted of corduroys the color of Ash Wednesday, a white dress shirt and a maroon V-neck sweater.

From Los Angeles Times

The rocker walked on stage alone, hunched over with his face obscured by a corduroy cap, to play a hushed acoustic version of the classic Sugar Mountain.

From BBC

These pleated pinstripe corduroy trousers are a contemporary classic.

From Los Angeles Times

Kings Starter jacket, the ribbed corduroy from the house shoes her dad would buy at the swap meet, a quilted inside that draws from the iconographic element of a Chanel bag.

From Los Angeles Times

Dressed in pink corduroys, a black hoodie and white sneakers, he was charming and sweet, jokey one second and quietly reflective the next.

From New York Times