Chiffon

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ʃɪˈfɑn/

Definitions

1. A sheer and delicate textile often crafted from silk or synthetic fibers, commonly utilized in elegant apparel and formal attire
2. A lightweight and translucent fabric, frequently made from silk or nylon, predominantly used to create stylish and flowing clothing
3. A fine, lightweight material characterized by its translucent quality, usually made from silk or synthetic threads, and often employed in the design of luxurious garments

Etymology: The most surprising link here runs backwards: the sheer, floaty fabric traces its name to a scrap of old rag. The French "chiffon" meant a cloth or rag, and it descends from Old French "chipe," a word for a rag, which came into English as a relative of "chip." So a fabric prized for its delicacy is named for something close to a splinter or shaving. The path from rag to fashion runs through French. Middle French "chiffe" meant cloth or an old rag, and the diminutive-style "chiffon" carried that sense of scraps and oddments before it came to name a light, gauzy material. English borrowed the French word for this fabric, keeping the sense of something fine and fragile. Compare the English word "chip," from Old English "ċipp," meaning a splinter or shaving. Both words grow from the same root idea of a small broken piece, though one ended up naming a wood fragment and the other a delicate textile.

Synonyms: light fabric