Kincobs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Richly decorated fabrics, often embellished with gold or silver threads ; ornate materials used especially in ceremonial attire or furnishings ; luxurious textiles displaying elaborate metallic embroidery and patterns
2. Fabrics featuring sumptuous embellishments of gold or silver threads ; decorative cloths prized for their lavish needlework and gleaming metallic details ; textiles marked by intricate and ornate woven metallic designs
3. Ornamental textiles woven with gold or silver thread ; opulent cloths notable for their dazzling metallic decorations used in garments or decor ; rich fabrics distinguished by elaborate and glittering embroidery

Etymology: "Kincob" is a Hindi-Urdu borrowing, from "kamkhwab," a term for silk brocade with gold or silver thread woven through it. The name came into English through the trade routes linking India and Britain, where European merchants and travelers encountered these heavy, shimmering fabrics in the Mughal courts and bazaars. The English form kept the sense of the cloth itself rather than the method of weaving, so the word always pointed to richness you could hold in your hands. "Kincobs" is the plural of "kincob," so it simply refers to several such fabrics, or to the category as a whole.