twill
1 Americannoun
-
a fabric constructed in twill weave.
-
a garment, as a suit or trousers, of this fabric.
verb (used with object)
-
to weave in the manner of a twill.
-
to weave in twill construction.
adjective
noun
verb
contraction
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."
Vocabulary lists containing twill
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.
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
By the late 1990s, Barr was flying to Hong Kong to meet with agents who could broker canvas and twill sewing jobs in China.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 19, 2023
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
The massive thighs which emerged from out of the smock were encased in a pair of extraordinary breeches, bottle-green in colour and made of coarse twill.
From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
