grogram

American  

[grog-ruhm] / ˈgrɒg rəm /

noun

1. a coarse fabric of silk, of silk and mohair or wool, or of wool, formerly in use.

---

grogram British  

/ ˈɡrɒɡrəm /

noun

1. a coarse fabric of silk, wool, or silk mixed with wool or mohair, often stiffened with gum, formerly used for clothing

---

Etymology

Origin of grogram

From Middle French gros grain, dating back to 1555–65. See grosgrain

Explanation

Grogram is a type of fabric that's a mix of silk and wool. Grogram was once commonly used to make clothes, but it’s kind of scratchy so people don’t use it much anymore. Combine silk with wool (or mohair) and what do you get? Grogram (if it's woven rather coarsely and/or stiffened with gum). The original French term was gros grain, for "coarse grain.” Grogram was once commonly used, but it had pretty much finished its time in the fashion spotlight by the 19th century. The more generic term grosgrain refers to similar material today. Since grogram is rough, it was good for making a jacket but not ideal for underwear.

Example Sentences

In bad weather he was in the habit of walking the deck in a rough grogram cloak, and thence had obtained the nickname of Old Grog in the Service.

From Notes and Queries, Number 04, November 24, 1849 by Various

The stuff called grogram, earlier grograyne, is from Fr. gros grain, coarse grain.

From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Weekley, Ernest

Time had stiffened, not softened, both her grogram and her prejudices.

From Clare Avery A Story of the Spanish Armada by Holt, Emily Sarah

"Plain Goody" would no longer down, 'T was "Madam," in her grogram gown.

From The Humorous Poetry of the English Language; from Chaucer to Saxe by Parton, James

Sir Marmaduke had been very kind, had given him a new suit of grogram, lined with flowered silk, which Lambert thought the richest garment he had ever seen.

From The Nest of the Sparrowhawk by Orczy, Emmuska Orczy, Baroness