textile

Forms

textile (plural textiles)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin textilis (“woven, plaited, interlaced”),^[2][3][4][5] derived from textum, the supine of texō (“to weave”).^[3][5][6] Wiktionary gives the neuter textile as the source.^[1] The same Latin verb gave the French tisser.^[3][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1752 in the Dictionnaire de Trévoux, as an adjective meaning “able to be divided into threads fit for weaving”.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In the 19th century the adjective came to qualify whatever relates to the making of fabrics: industries textiles is found in 1864 in the Revue des Deux Mondes.^[2][3][6] It is commonest in phrases such as fibre textile, matière textile and industrie textile.^[3] Littré also gives a sense in mineralogy, of minerals made of thin, long filaments.^[8]

As a noun it named a material fit to be woven from 1872 (Littré), and textiles artificiels appears in 1912;^[2][3] le textile has meant the textile industry itself since 1929.^[3] Naturists use it of a person who is not a nudist.^[1]

Timeline

• 1752 – First record, in the Dictionnaire de Trévoux.^[2][3]
• 1864 – Industries textiles in the Revue des Deux Mondes.^[2][6]
• 1872 – Littré records the noun.^[2][3]
• 1912 – Textiles artificiels is recorded.^[2][3]
• 1929 – Le textile names the textile industry.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. That can be spun and woven, or divided into threads for weaving: matière textile, plante textile.^[2][7][8]
2. Relating to the manufacture of fabrics: industrie textile.^[6][3][7]

Noun

1. A fibre or material that can be made into fabric, a textile.^[7][8][1]
2. Le textile: the textile industry.^[3]
3. (naturism) A person who is not a nudist.^[1]

Related words

• tisser
• Latin textilis

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette