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• twill
  twill

  noun

  a fabric constructed in twill weave.
• 'twill
  'twill

  a contraction of it will.

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."

Related Words

• cotton
• goods
• material
• stuff