percale

[ per-keyl ]

/ pərˈkeɪl /

a closely woven, smooth-finished, plain or printed cotton cloth, used for bed sheets, clothing, etc.

Origin of percale

1615–25; < French < Persian pargāla rag; replacing percalla < Persian

Did you ever have a calico apron or dress of percale or cambric on which the pattern showed on one side only?

Clothing and Health |Helen Kinne
She would buy so and so many yards of percale for new shirt waists for the boys and Janie and Mag.

The Awakening and Selected Short Stories |Kate Chopin
She wore a percale gown, ecru ground with bright figures, a rose-colored cravat and a bonnet laden with flowers.

L'Assommoir |Emile Zola
Percale that could be bought for ten cents a yard on the avenue, sold on the square for fifteen cents.

The Co-Citizens |Corra Harris

Percale is a closely woven fabric made with a good quality of cotton yarn.

Textiles |William H. Dooley

percale

/ (pəˈkeɪl, -ˈkɑːl) /

a close-textured woven cotton fabric, plain or printed, used esp for sheets

C17: via French from Persian pargālah piece of cloth