Drugget

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈdɹʌɡɪt/

Definitions

1. A coarse woolen fabric used as a floor covering or protective cloth, often having a plain weave and durable construction
2. A sturdy, lightweight textile typically made from wool, used primarily as a floor mat or protective covering in various environments
3. A type of plain woven wool fabric that serves as a durable floor covering or protective material against wear and tear

Etymology: Drugget is a coarse woollen fabric, and the cloth was named for its cheapness. It came into English from French "droguet," a diminutive of "drogue," which in French meant something cheap or of little value. The Old French root behind that sense is uncertain, so the exact ancestry of "drogue" is debated, but the cheapness is clear in the word's own history: the thing being named was the humble, hard-wearing cloth that could be laid down where a costlier carpet would be ruined by traffic. The fabric became the floor covering it is today because it suited that job. A drugget could be spread over a floor in a room or passage to protect the surface beneath while still giving some warmth and comfort underfoot, which is why the term is attached to a practical covering rather than to fine decoration. The word's meaning has stayed close to its origin, and the sense of a modest, serviceable textile has survived the centuries largely unchanged.

Synonyms: rug, carpet