damask English · revision 1578

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdæm.əsk/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|damaske]],^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD) [[der|la-med|damascus]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from the name of [[la|Damascus]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) the city in Syria famous for its steel and silk fabrics,^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) from Greek ''Damaskós''.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The city of Damascus (about 1250).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As the name of a fabric, “cloth from Damascus”, the word dates from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) It was used of Damascus steel and its wavy pattern^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and, from the damask rose, of a pink colour (about 1600).^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) The verb meaning to weave with rich patterns is from 1599.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1250 – Damascus.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1378 – a richly patterned silk.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * about 1540 – ''damask rose''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1585 – verb, to damascene.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1600 – a pink colour.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1640s – adjective, woven with figures.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A rich [[reversible]] fabric of silk, linen, cotton or wool, woven with patterns.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Fine [[twill|alt=twilled]] table linen.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+ # [[Damascus steel]], or the wavy pattern on it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A greyish-pink or grey-red colour, like that of the [[damask rose]].^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To decorate metal in the Damascus style; to [[damascene]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+ # To weave or adorn with rich patterns.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made of or like damask.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # Of the colour damask.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[damascene]]

+ * [[damask rose]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[damson]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}