Antimacassar

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌæn.tɪ.məˈkæs.ə/

Definitions

1. A protective textile draped over furniture to guard against grime and abrasion
2. An artistic cover designed to shield upholstery from unwanted marks and damage
3. A small cloth placed on furniture surfaces to prevent dirt and wear from hair oils or general use

Etymology: The antimacassar is named for a hair product. In the nineteenth century, many men and women dressed their hair with macassar oil, a scented preparation whose name came from Makassar, the port city in Sulawesi (in modern Indonesia) through which the ebony and oils of the region were traded. The oil was greasy enough to leave stains on the upholstery of armchairs and sofas wherever a head rested, so householders began draping small protective covers over the backs of the seats. The word is a plain combination of "anti-", meaning "against", and "macassar", so it literally means "against macassar" or "guard against macassar oil." The covers were called antimacassars from the start, and the name stuck even after the oil fell out of fashion and the covers were made from lace, crochet, or embroidered cloth purely for decoration.