bengaline

English

Etymology

From French bengaline, from its resemblance to a kind of fabric imported from Bengal.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbɛŋɡəliːn/

Noun

bengaline (plural bengalines)

1. A fabric made from silk and worsted; poplin.
   • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 415:

     Ruperta tonight was in a narrow black bengaline costume with a Medici collar and cuffs of bastard chinchilla.