taffeta
[ taf-i-tuh ]
/ ˈtæf ɪ tə /
noun
a medium-weight or light-weight fabric of acetate, nylon, rayon, or silk, usually smooth, crisp, and lustrous, plain-woven, and with a fine crosswise rib effect.
any of various other fabrics of silk, linen, wool, etc., in use at different periods.
adjective
of or resembling taffeta.
Nearby words
Origin of taffeta
1325–75; Middle English taffata < Medieval Latin ≪ Persian tāftah silken or linen cloth, noun use of past participle of tāftan to twist, spin
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for taffeta
British Dictionary definitions for taffeta
taffeta
/ (ˈtæfɪtə) /
noun
- a crisp lustrous plain-weave silk, rayon, etc, used esp for women's clothes
- (as modifier)a taffeta petticoat
any of various similar fabrics
Word Origin for taffeta
C14: from Medieval Latin taffata, from Persian tāftah spun, from tāftan to spin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for taffeta
taffeta
late 14c., from Old French taffetas (early 14c.), from Italian taffeta, ultimately from Persian taftah "silk or linen cloth," noun use of taftah, past participle of taftan "to shine," also "to twist, spin." Applied to different fabrics at different times (and cf. tapestry).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper