chenille
[ shuh-neel ]
/ ʃəˈnil /
noun
a velvety cord or yarn of silk or worsted, for embroidery, fringes, etc.
fabric made with a fringed silken thread used as the weft in combination with wool or cotton.
any fabric with a protruding pile, as in certain rayon bedspreads.
a deep-pile, durable, woolen carpeting with chenille weft: the most expensive power-loomed floor covering.
Origin of chenille
1730–40; < French: velvety cord, literally, caterpillar < Latin
canīcula, with etymological sense “little dog,” though attested only in senses “shrewish woman, dogfish, Sirius” (see
canicular); for parallel use of “cat” in same sense, see
caterpillar
Words nearby chenille
cheney,
chengchow,
chengde,
chengdu,
chenier,
chenille,
chenille plant,
chenin blanc,
chennai,
chennault,
chenopod
Example sentences from the Web for chenille
British Dictionary definitions for chenille
chenille
/ (ʃəˈniːl) /
noun
a thick soft tufty silk or worsted velvet cord or yarn used in embroidery and for trimmings, etc
a fabric of such yarn
a rich and hard-wearing carpet of such fabric
Word Origin for chenille
C18: from French, literally: hairy caterpillar, from Latin
canicula, diminutive of
canis dog