释义 |
percale (‖ pɛrkal, pəˈkeɪl) Forms: 7–8 percalla, -callis, -caula(h; 8– percale. [app. orig. from some Eastern source: origin uncertain (cf. however Pers. pargālah a rag). The mod. use is an adoption (with the material) of F. percale (1723 in Hatz.-Darm.). In Sp. percal, It. percallo.] a. orig. A fabric imported from the East Indies in the 17th and 18th centuries: ? = book-muslin: cf. quot. 1696. b. In mod. use, A closely woven cotton fabric, orig. of French manufacture, with higher finishing than muslin, and without gloss. a.1621R. Cocks Diary (Hakl. Soc.) II. 160, 7 peeces white percallas. 1696J. F. Merchant's Ware-ho. 33 A sort of fine Callico called Percallis, there being of it two sorts, the one is much like Sallampoires, and is made up much like it..; the next is made up like a Book; these sorts are indifferent fine, and are..much used for Shifts and Shirts, but the Book-Percallis is the strongest. 1757New Hist. E. Ind. II. 143, 8100 pieces percales. 1813W. Milburn Orient. Comm., II. 221 Percaulahs, Pieces R800. b.1840Thackeray Paris Sk.-bk. 6 A light bed which has a tall canopy of red percale. 1884Girl's Own Paper Aug. 682/1 Quantities of cottons, chintzes, and percales are to be seen in the shops, in preparation for a hot summer. 1890Cent. Dict. s.v., The soft-finished percale is an English manufacture, of less body than the French percale. attrib.1880‘Ouida’ Moths I. 61 Look at our camelot and percale gowns that Worth sends us. |