English Explanatory Dictionary

muslin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of several varieties of thin cotton cloth.
  2. Fabric made of cotton, flax (linen), hemp, or silk, finely or coarsely woven.
  3. Any of a wide variety of tightly-woven thin fabrics, especially those used for bedlinen.
  4. Woven cotton or linen fabrics, especially when used for items other than garments.
  5. A dressmaker's pattern made from inexpensive cloth for fitting.
  6. Any of several different moths, especially the muslin moth, Diaphora mendica.
  7. Woman as sex object; prostitute, as in a bit of muslin.

Pronunciation

/ˈmʌz.lɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-muslin.wav

Word forms

muslin muslins muselin

Etymology

From French mousseline, from Italian mussolina, from Mussolo (“Mosul”), that is Mosul in northern Iraq (compare 1875 Knight, Edward H., Knight's American Mechanical Dictionary, V2 p1502: "Muslins are so called from Moussol in India."). Doublet of mousseline.

Derived words

bit of muslin book muslin buke muslin butter muslin butter-muslin muslined muslin-kale muslinlike muslinoma paper muslin
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