Stammel
Archive
Word of the Week (184): STAMMEL (probability 23021), by David Sutton
STAMMEL was a kind of coarse woollen fabric, usually dyed red.
For those of us who just think of wool as wool, it may come as a surprise to learn the multitude of different fabrics it has been used to produce over the years, often by combining it with some other material, notably silk, to increase its appeal and durability (or possibly to make it less itchy). Here are some of them.
ALEPINE is a mixed wool and silk fabric, taking its name from the Arabic, meaning 'from Aleppo'.
ARRASENE is an embroidery material of silk and wool.
BAININ or BAWNEEN (from the Irish bainin, homespun) is a white, close-woven woollen material used for making jackets.
BARACAN or BARRACAN is a coarsely woven fabric of wool, silk, and goat's hair.
CAMELOT (or CAMLET, CHAMELOT, CHAMLET) is a strong waterproof silk or wool fabric, perhaps originally of camel's hair, hence the name which has no connection with the Arthurian Camelot, the origin of which is much debated.
CARMELITE is a fine woollen fabric of beige or similar colour.
CASHMERE (or CASIMERE, CASIMIRE, CASSIMERE, KASHMIR, KERSEYMERE) is a soft twilled fabric made of fine goat's wool.
CHALLIE (or CHALLIS, CHALLY, SHALLI) is a soft lightweight silk, wool or cotton fabric.
CHEVIOT is a coarse heavy plain or twilled wool or worsted.
DUROY was a coarse woollen material.
EOLIENNE is a fine dress fabric of silk and wool.
FARANDINE (or FARRANDINE, FERRANDINE) was another kind of silk and wool cloth.
HODDEN or HODDIN was a coarse undyed homespun woollen cloth used in Scotland.
KELTER was a coarse cloth made of black and white wool mixed and not dyed.
LINSEY is a coarse blend of linen and wool.
LODEN comes from the German and is a thick waterproof woollen cloth.
MACKINAW is a heavy napped and felted wool cloth, taking its name from Mackinaw City, Michigan, USA, formerly an important trading post.
MOCKADO was an inferior quality woollen fabric, taking its name from the Italian mocaiardo, haircloth.
SAGATHY was a light blend of silk and cotton or wool.
SHATOOSH (or SHAHTOOSH) is a soft wool from the protected Tibetan antelope.
SHALLOON was a light woollen fabric used for coat-linings, possibly taking its name from Châlons-sur-Marne in France where it was made.
TOILINET (or TOILINETTE) is a kind of woollen cloth with a silk and cotton warp.
WADMAL (or WADMAAL, WADMEL, WADMOL, WADMOLL) was a coarse, hairy, woollen cloth, formerly used for garments by the poor.