faille

[ fahyl, feyl; French fa-yuh ]

/ faɪl, feɪl; French ˈfa yə /

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noun

a soft, transversely ribbed fabric of silk, rayon, or lightweight taffeta.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of faille

1520–30; <Middle French, Old French; of obscure origin

Words nearby faille

fail, failed, failed star, failed state, failing, faille, fail-safe, fail-soft, failure, fain, fainaigue

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use faille in a sentence

Thus, as Frontback founder and CEO Frederic della Faille puts it, “My face is the caption of the photo.”
Meet Frontback: The App The Lets You Tell a Story with Your Selfie|Adam Auriemma|December 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They resided comfortably alongside Chantilly lace, silk faille, and his contented clients of a certain age.
New York Fashion Week: Top-Trends Roundup|Robin Givhan|February 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Wu certainly can craft a magical moment with silk faille coats, feather-embellished skirts, and embroidered dresses.
The Oscar de la Renta Effect|Robin Givhan|September 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Lucille's dress of light blue faille silk, garnished with pearls and guipure lace, was very becoming.
The Harris-Ingram Experiment|Charles E. Bolton

To this class belong the grosgrains, Ottoman, faille Francaise—a silk resembling grosgrain, but softer and brighter.
Textiles and Clothing|Kate Heintz Watson
Faille Francaise—A soft, lustrous silk of wider cord than grosgrain, but narrower than ottoman.
Textiles and Clothing|Kate Heintz Watson
Faille and Bouchot, expecting to succeed, paid the money; they failed while the bottles were making.
Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau|Honore de Balzac
Depesches la responce a fin que Je ne faille et ne ^vous fies de ceste entreprinse a vostre frere.
The Mystery of Mary Stuart|Andrew Lang

British Dictionary definitions for faille

faille

/ (feɪl, French faj) /

noun

a soft light ribbed fabric of silk, rayon, or taffeta

Word Origin for faille

C16: from French: head covering, hence, fabric used for this, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012