Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1883 — Origin of Names of the Fabrics. [ARTICLE]

Origin of Names of the Fabrics.

Everything connected with one’s business is of importance. Very few drygoods- men know the origin of the names of many of the goods they handle. They may seem trivial points, but they are of interest to the man who seeks to be thoroughly familiar with the merchandise in which he deals. For the information of such we give the derivation of the names of the following goods: Damask is from the city of Damascus; satins from Zaytown in Cljina; calico from Calicut, a town in India, formerly celebrated for its cotton cloth, and where calico was also printed. Muslin is named from Mosul in Asia. Alpaca is from an animal of Peru, of the llama species, from whose wool the fabric is woven. Buckram takes its name from Bochara; fustian comes from Fostat, a city of the middle ages, from which the modern Cairo is descended. Taffeta and tabby from a street in Bagdad. Cambric from Cambral. Gauze has its name from Gaza; baize from Bajac; dimity from Damietta, and jeans from Jean. Drugget is derived from a city in Ireland, Drugheka. Duck comes from Torque, in Normandy. Blanket is called after Thomas Blanket, a famous clothier connected with the introduction of woolens into England about 1340. Serge derives its name from Xerga, a Spanish name for a peculiar woolen blanket. Diaper is not from D’Ypres, as is sometimes stated, but from the Greek diaspron, figured. Velvet is from the Italian vellute, wooly (Latin, vellus— a hide or pelt). Shawl is the Sanscrit sala, floor, for shawls were first used as carpets and tapestry. Bandanna is from ap Indian word, meaning to bind or tie, because they are tied in knots before dyeing. Chintz comes the Hindoo word chett. Delaine is the French “of wool.”