What material comes from the French phrase meaning "the cloth of kings"?
Question #48582. Asked by Cyndee1956.
Last updated Aug 31 2016.
TabbyTom
Answer has 2 votes
TabbyTom 24 year member
1233 replies
Answer has 2 votes.
Maybe corduroy (corde du roi"), though the etymology is disputed and the phraes doesn't seem to have been used in French.
Jun 20 2004, 6:43 AM
gmackematix
Answer has 2 votes
gmackematix 22 year member
3206 replies
Answer has 2 votes.
That etymology does seem to fit like a good pair of corduroys, TT, but you are right. The OED says that it derives from an old fabric just called "duroy". Mind you, it doesn't say where that took its name from.
Jun 20 2004, 9:26 AM
McGruff
Answer has 6 votes
Currently Best Answer
McGruff 25 year member
3694 replies
Answer has 6 votes.
Currently voted the best answer.
I've found a number of fabrics called the "cloth of kings" but corduroy is the only one that seems to come from a French phrase meaning cloth of kings, whether is actually does or not. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corduroy
Kente cloth is known as the "cloth of kings" because originally it was made for kings, queens, chiefs, and their royal courts to wear on special occasions. http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102001685
Woven damask is called the "Cloth of Kings."
[califmall.com/rafnel/rafartist.html] - Link no longer valid
Response last updated by zorba_scank on Aug 31 2016.
Jun 20 2004, 9:40 AM