Cloths

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /klɒθs/

Definitions

1. Textiles created from fibers that serve multiple functions including covering, draping, and crafting
2. Materials composed of woven or knitted threads employed for a variety of uses such as apparel and home décor
3. Woven or knitted fabric items used for diverse purposes, including protecting surfaces and making clothing

Etymology: The plural "cloths" simply gives the plural of "cloth", which is itself one of English's older words for fabric. "Cloth" descends from Old English "clāþ", a word that covered not only woven material but also garments, coverings and even sails, a range of senses that shows how broadly the Anglo-Saxons used it. The deeper story lies in the word's sticky roots. Its ancestor is traced to a Proto-Germanic "*klaiþą" meaning "garment", possibly linked to an Indo-European root meaning "to cling to, cleave, stick". The link is a striking one: the same root also gave Old English "clīþan", meaning "to adhere", so a piece of cloth was once named for the way it clung to the body. Cognates in many neighbouring languages keep this family meaning alive. German "Kleid" means "gown" or "dress", Swedish "kläde" means "cloth", and Icelandic "klæði" means "cloth" or "dressing", showing that across the Germanic languages the core idea has long been fabric worn or wrapped around the body.

Synonyms: fabrics, textiles, material, cloth, garments

Antonyms: skin, nakedness, exposure, barren, bare