Word of the day: serge

The word of the day is serge:

 

serge¹

—noun

1. a twilled worsted or woolen fabric used especially for clothing.
2. cotton, rayon, or silk in a twill weave.

1382, from O.Fr. serge, from V.L. *sarica, in M.L. "cloth of wool mixed with silk or linen," from L. serica (vestis) "silken (garment)," from serica, from Gk. serike, fem. of serikos "silken" (see silk). The Fr. word is the source of Ger. sarsche, Dan. sarge, etc. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/serge)

"There they sat, burning under their serge and bombazine with emotions hotter than gentility could quite allow."

 - Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose