samite
[ sam-ahyt, sey-mahyt ]
/ ˈsæm aɪt, ˈseɪ maɪt /
noun
a heavy silk fabric, sometimes interwoven with gold, worn in the Middle Ages.
Nearby words
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for samite
British Dictionary definitions for samite
samite
/ (ˈsæmaɪt, ˈseɪ-) /
noun
a heavy fabric of silk, often woven with gold or silver threads, used in the Middle Ages for clothing
Word Origin for samite
C13: from Old French samit, from Medieval Latin examitum, from Greek hexamiton, from hexamitos having six threads, from hex six + mitos a thread
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for samite
samite
type of rich silk cloth, c.1300, from Old French samit, from Medieval Latin samitum, examitum, from Medieval Greek hexamiton (source of Old Church Slavonic oksamitu, Russian aksamit "velvet"), noun use of neuter of Greek adjective hexamitos "six-threaded," from hex "six" (see six) + mitos "warp thread" (see mitre (n.)). The reason it was called this is variously explained. Obsolete c.1600; revived by Tennyson. German Sammet "velvet" is from French.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper