a light cotton fabric of various weaves, especially one in multicolored plaid or stripes, used for shirts, dresses, jackets, etc.
a thin curtain fabric of a light, gauzelike weave with figures of heavier yarns.
a large, brightly colored kerchief, of silk or cotton, often used for turbans.
a strong fine cotton or silk fabric, usually with a woven stripe
( as modifier )
madras cotton
something made of this, esp a scarf
a medium-hot curry
chicken madras
the former official name of Chennai
the former name (until 1968) for the state of Tamil Nadu
First recorded in 1825–35; named after Madras
Madras is a type of cotton cloth that's patterned with a colorful plaid design. If you're headed to a preppy country club, you might want to wear your favorite madras shorts. Madras is a fabric that's commonly worn during the warmest months and can be spotted in the form of golfers' pants, men's summer jackets, and women's sundresses. This distinctive cloth is named for the place it was originally made, the Indian city once called Madras, which is known today as Chennai.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The simplicity of a pair of clean khakis or the monstrous absurdity of a madras blazer’s multicolored patchwork construction are American heritage items.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2022
Priming for summer found some “Real” madras shorts!
From Seattle Times ● May 17, 2022
Baldwin offers tips for choosing the perfect apples to bake with and shares her recipe for madras curry apple doughnut muffins.
From Salon ● Dec. 11, 2021
Tartan, tattersall and glen plaids evoke a refined and masculine feel, perfect for a formal living room or study, while madras has a casual association that can set the tone for a more laid-back space.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 11, 2021
Herringbones and madras and lamb’s wool and cashmere flashed past in a blur as hands and arms rent the air in a variety of graceful gestures.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
They pieced together the story of the people she may have painted in Chennai in India, known then as Madras, including the Nawabs of Arcot, the local Mughal rulers.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
A legal bid by some residents to annul all transactions since Ravi's arrival in 2021 was rejected by the Madras High Court last year, but several other cases are ongoing.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
In 1914, shortly before leaving Madras for Cambridge, renowned Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan published a paper presenting 17 different formulas for calculating pi.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 16, 2025
We opted instead for the Pandian Express, a sleeper train that departed Madras Egmore station after dinner, creaking into Kodai Road at dawn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 29, 2025
Before moving to Pondicherry, Father ran a large hotel in Madras.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
