crinoline

[ krin-l-in ]

noun

1. a petticoat of haircloth or other stiff material, worn under a full skirt to keep it belled out.
2. a stiff, coarse cotton material for interlining.
3. a hoop skirt.
4. a reinforcement of iron straps for holding together brickwork, as of a furnace or chimney.

crinoline

/ ˈkrɪnəlɪn /

noun

1. a stiff fabric, originally of horsehair and linen used in lining garments
2. a petticoat stiffened with this, worn to distend skirts, esp in the mid-19th century
3. a framework of steel hoops worn for the same purpose

Word History and Origins

Origin of crinoline¹

1820–30; < French < Italian crinolino, equivalent to crino horse-hair (≪ Latin crīnis hair) + lino flax < Latin līnum; linen

Word History and Origins

Origin of crinoline¹

C19: from French, from Italian crinolino, from crino horsehair, from Latin crīnis hair + lino flax, from Latin līnum

Example Sentences

It is not he who would write virtuous tirades against painting, rougeing, and the crinoline.

From Project Gutenberg

The most extraordinary human figure that I ever saw was a black gin in a bird-cage crinoline.

From Project Gutenberg

Charlotte nodded, took up her dress, and contrived to thrust the trunk into a huge pocket under her crinoline.

From Project Gutenberg

You see it made my frock stand out like crinoline and no one would think it was anything else.

From Project Gutenberg

"It wouldn't be such a bad catch, after all," soliloquized Afy, as she and her crinoline swayed along.

From Project Gutenberg