messaline

[ mes-uh-leen, mes-uh-leen ]

/ ˌmɛs əˈlin, ˈmɛs əˌlin /

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noun

a thin, soft silk with a twill or satin weave.

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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 messaline

Borrowed into English from French around 1905–10

Words nearby messaline

message switching, message unit, messaging, Messalian, Messalina, messaline, messan, Messapian, Messapic, mess around, mess call

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

How to use messaline in a sentence

Her gown of old rose messaline was cut very low in the neck, with mere abbreviations in the way of sleeves.
The Meadow-Brook Girls Under Canvas|Janet Aldridge
Mr. de Lara's latest production, 'Sanga' , does not seem to have sustained the promise of 'Messaline.'
The Opera|R.A. Streatfeild
Julia Graham, a rather stout, pleasant-faced young woman in pink messaline, bowed to Miriam.
Grace Harlowe's First Year at Overton College|Jessie Graham Flower
Emma McChesney drew from the rack a skirt of king's blue satin messaline and held it at arm's length.
Roast Beef, Medium|Edna Ferber

Dorothy smiled as she turned her back and folded the messaline dress, placing it carefully in her trunk.
Dorothy Dale in the City|Margaret Penrose

British Dictionary definitions for messaline

messaline

/ (ˌmɛsəˈliːn, ˈmɛsəˌliːn) /

noun

a light lustrous twilled-silk fabric

Word Origin for messaline

C20: from French, origin obscure

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