grosgrain
UK[ˈɡrəʊ.ɡreɪn]US[ˈɡroʊ.ɡreɪn]
n
a heavy, corded fabric, typically made of silk or rayon, with prominent crosswise ribs.
n
a ribbon made of this fabric, often used for hatbands or trimming.
Etymology
the word 'grosgrain' entered english in the 16th century from the french phrase 'gros grain,' which literally means 'large grain' or 'coarse texture.' this term originally described a heavy, coarse fabric, with 'gros' meaning 'thick, coarse' and 'grain' referring to the texture or fiber of the cloth. over time, its application narrowed specifically to a corded silk or rayon fabric characterized by its distinct, pronounced ribs, which visually resemble a coarse grain. the term perfectly illustrates how a descriptive phrase from one language can be borrowed and lexicalized into a single, specific term in another.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from french, adopted as a single lexical unit. it is not productively formed from separable english morphemes.
Examples
she trimmed the velvet hat with a black grosgrain ribbon.
the dress was accented with a sash made of red grosgrain.
grosgrain is a popular choice for formal accessories and decorative bindings.