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organdie

British  
/ ˈɔːɡəndɪ /

noun

  1. a fine and slightly stiff cotton fabric used esp for dresses

"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

Etymology

Origin of organdie

C19: from French organdi, of unknown origin

Explanation

Organdie is a crisp, sheer fabric made of silk or cotton. Old-fashioned, formal children's clothes with big, stiff, ruffles are often made of organdie. Organdie is so fine that it's nearly translucent, but a special finish is usually applied to make it stiff and prevent wrinkling. Light summer dresses are sometimes made of organdie with a lighter finish, while fancy organdie curtains tend to be much stiffer. The word's origin, beyond the French organdi, is a bit of a mystery, though it may stem from Organzi, an Uzbek city that was once a textile center.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In this lesser-known story by Noel Streatfeild, Selina Cole is growing up in post-war England, with no occasions to wear an organdie dress with a blue satin sash.

From The Guardian Jul. 12, 2012

The wedding dress was sleeveless white organdie, with white satin flowers appliquéd on the neck and the bust.

From The New Yorker Aug. 30, 2010

A blue Peter Pan frock, a white organdie collar, white cuffs, a straw mushroom hat.

From Time Magazine Archive

She thinks we shouldn't wear organdie blouses or put red polish on our fingernails.

From Time Magazine Archive

Pausing to clasp hands and chat with her for a moment, Marjorie passed on to speak to Lucy Warner, a dignified little figure in a simple white organdie frock.

From Marjorie Dean High School Senior by Chase, Josephine

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