denim English · revision 2463

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɛnɪm/ ''(UK)''; /ˈdɛnəm/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a shortening of [[fr|serge de Nîmes|t=serge of Nîmes]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from the town in southern France where the cloth was made.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A kind of serge (1695).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The name moved from a woollen serge to a coloured twilled cotton cloth, a use recorded by 1850 in American English.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) The plural ''denims'' for trousers or overalls made of the fabric is recorded from 1868.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1695 – a kind of serge.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1850 – a coarse twilled cotton cloth (American).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1868 – ''denims'', overalls or trousers of denim.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sturdy twilled cotton cloth, usually blue, used for jeans and work clothes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural)'' Trousers or overalls made of this cloth.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A finer similar fabric used for upholstery.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[denimed]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[jeans]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}