buckram

[ buhk-ruh m ]
/ ˈbʌk rəm /

noun

a stiff cotton fabric for interlinings, book bindings, etc.
stiffness of manner; extreme preciseness or formality.

verb (used with object), buck·ramed, buck·ram·ing.

to strengthen with buckram.
Archaic. to give a false appearance of importance, value, or strength to.

Origin of buckram

1175–1225; Middle English bukeram < Middle High German buckeram or Old Italian bucherame, said to be named after Bukhara, once noted for textiles

Example sentences from the Web for buckram

British Dictionary definitions for buckram

buckram
/ (ˈbʌkrəm) /

noun

  1. cotton or linen cloth stiffened with size, etc, used in lining or stiffening clothes, bookbinding, etc
  2. (as modifier)a buckram cover
archaic stiffness of manner

verb -rams, -raming or -ramed

(tr) to stiffen with buckram

Word Origin for buckram

C14: from Old French boquerant, from Old Provençal bocaran, ultimately from Bukhara, once an important source of textiles