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

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