twill

¹ American  

[twil] / twɪl /

noun

1. a fabric constructed in twill weave.

2. a garment, as a suit or trousers, of this fabric.

3. twill weave.

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verb (used with object)

1. to weave in the manner of a twill.

2. to weave in twill construction.

'twill ² American  

[twil] / twɪl /

1. a contraction of it will.

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twill ¹ British  

/ twɪl /

adjective

1. (in textiles) of or designating a weave in which the weft yarns are worked around two or more warp yarns to produce an effect of parallel diagonal lines or ribs

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noun

1. any fabric so woven

verb

1. (tr) to weave in this fashion

'twill ² British  

/ twɪl /

contraction

1. it will

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Usage

See contraction.

Other Word Forms

• untwilled adjective

Etymology

Origin of twill

1300–50; north and Scots variant of twilly (noun), Middle English twyle, Old English twilī ( c ), half translation, half adoption of Latin bilīc- (stem of bilīx ) having double thread. See twi-

Explanation

Twill is a sturdy type of fabric that's woven in a distinctive diagonal pattern. You probably have twill in your closet — most jeans are made from denim twill. Twill is often made of cotton, and the particular method used to weave it creates a durable cloth that can be used for clothes or upholstery. Your sofa may be covered in twill — one type to look for is herringbone, in which you can see a pattern of small Vs. The word twill comes from the Old English twili, "woven with double thread," and its Latin root bilix, "with a double thread."

Example Sentences

Traditional denim is typically cotton woven diagonally in a twill, which makes it rough, said Steph Giri, who costumes dancers at the University of Utah and has never put one in jeans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Curtain-binding tape made of heavyweight cotton twill is stretched from post to post, positioned “at their knees and hips, and sometimes at their shoulders, to hold them upright beautifully,” she said.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2022

Ranging in size from XXS to 6XL, Big Bud Press’ cotton twill jumpsuit is designed to be size-inclusive for a diverse group of people.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2021

They’re made of tear-resistant nylon twill, which is helpful when you’re using that second zipper to squeeze your clothes into a small space.

From Washington Post • Oct. 27, 2021

Although in the end she had packed lightly, according to the children’s instructions, Penelope had insisted on tucking two books into the large pockets of her rugged twill safari skirt.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• cotton
• goods
• material
• stuff