orphrey

[ awr-free ]

noun,plural or·phreys.

an ornamental band or border, especially on an ecclesiastical vestment.
gold embroidery.

rich embroidery of any sort.
a piece of richly embroidered material.

Origin of orphrey

1300–50; Middle English orfreis (later construed as plural) <Old French <Medieval Latin aurifrisium, variant of aurifrigium, for Latin phrase aurum Phrygium gold embroidery, literally, Phrygian gold

Also or·fray [awr-frey, -free] /ˈɔr freɪ, -fri/ .

Other words from orphrey

orphreyed, adjective

Words Nearby orphrey

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

How to use orphrey in a sentence

orphrey, or′fri, n. gold or other rich embroidery attached to vestments, esp.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) | Various
An embroidered orphrey in the Victoria and Albert Museum belongs to the early part of the same century.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 | Various
Judging from these, and the embroidered orphrey which the authorities bought from the Hockon Collection for £119 1s.
Chats on Old Lace and Needlework | Emily Leigh Lowes
The shoulders were vested in a cope, and this cameo set in the centre of the orphrey.
The Churches of Paris | S. Sophia Beale
The chasuble upon which this orphrey is placed is made of a lovely brocaded silk decorated with falcons, peahens, and roses.
Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving | Grace Christie

British Dictionary definitions for orphrey

orphrey

less commonly orfray

/ (ˈɔːfrɪ) /

noun

a richly embroidered band or border, esp on an ecclesiastical vestment

Origin of orphrey

C13 orfreis, from Old French, from Late Latin aurifrisium, auriphrygium, from Latin aurum gold + Phrygius Phrygian

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

Browse