Bombasines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A fine or luxurious fabric made from silk or a silk blend, often used for clothing and upholstery
2. A textile characterized by its smooth texture and sheen, traditionally utilized in high-quality garments
3. An elegant material, usually woven with silk, favored for its soft feel and rich appearance in fashion and decor

Etymology: "Bombasines" is the plural of "bombasine," a fabric of silk or silk blend. The name traces back to the Greek "bombykinos," meaning silken, from "bombyx," the silkworm. It reached English through Late Latin and Old French, which kept the sense of silk. The same Greek root produced "bombast." Early speakers used a related word for cotton, so "bombast" first meant cotton wadding used to stuff garments. Its sense of inflated, padded speech came later, as a metaphor for filling a sentence with empty material.