loden
UK[ˈləʊd(ə)n]US[ˈloʊd(ə)n]
n
a thick, soft, waterproof woolen cloth, typically dark green or blue, used for coats and jackets.
n
a dark olive-green color like that of the cloth.
Etymology
the word 'loden' entered english in the early 20th century as a direct borrowing from the german 'loden', which denotes a thick, weatherproof woolen fabric. the german term itself derives from old high german 'lodo', meaning 'coarse cloth', and is related to the middle high german 'lode', a 'thick, woolen garment'. this, in turn, can be traced back to a proto-germanic root, likely connected to concepts of weight or thickness. the semantic journey is straightforward: from a general term for a heavy, coarse cloth in old germanic languages, it became specialized in austrian and bavarian contexts for a specific type of waterproof wool used in traditional outerwear, a meaning and material which english adopted directly.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from german, where it originally referred to a coarse woolen cloth. it is not productively segmented into meaningful morphemes in english based on its current spelling.
Examples
he wore a traditional loden coat, perfect for the damp alpine weather.
the fashion designer featured a modern suit in a classic loden green.
authentic loden is made from the wool of mountain sheep and is naturally water-repellent.