bobbinet: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Historical / Fashion
Quick answer
What does “bobbinet” mean?
A machine-made, hexagonal-mesh net fabric, often used in veils, dresses, and as a base for lace.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A machine-made, hexagonal-mesh net fabric, often used in veils, dresses, and as a base for lace.
Any fine, machine-woven netting with a characteristic hexagonal mesh structure, distinct from tulle which has a hexagonal but often stiffer structure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is used identically in textile industries in both regions.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes vintage or high-quality millinery and formalwear, often associated with traditional craftsmanship.
Frequency
Equally rare in general discourse in both the UK and US. Slightly more likely to be encountered in UK contexts related to heritage textiles or costume history.
Grammar
How to Use “bobbinet” in a Sentence
made of bobbinetwoven into bobbinettrimmed with bobbineta bolt of bobbinetVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bobbinet” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The bobbinet trim was meticulously hand-stitched.
- She sourced bobbinet fabric from a Nottingham mill.
American English
- The bobbinet overlay gave the gown its structure.
- A bobbinet sample was submitted for analysis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in textile wholesale and manufacturing, e.g., 'Our mill specialises in producing high-quality bobbinet for the couture market.'
Academic
Found in historical, costume, and textile engineering papers, e.g., 'The invention of the bobbinet machine revolutionised lace production in the 19th century.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Precise term in textile science and conservation, e.g., 'The artifact was identified as a bobbinet overlay on a silk chiffon base.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bobbinet”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bobbinet”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bobbinet”
- Misspelling as 'bobinet' or 'bobbinette'.
- Using it as a general term for any lightweight fabric.
- Confusing it with 'tulle', which can be softer and less structurally defined.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are similar but not identical. Both are net fabrics. Bobbinet is a specific type of machine-made net with a hexagonal mesh, often used as a base for lace. Tulle can refer to a wider range of nettings, often lighter and sometimes with a hexagonal or hexagonal-like mesh; bobbinet is generally considered a type of tulle, but the terms are not perfectly interchangeable in technical contexts.
Primarily in high-fashion/couture, bridal wear (veils, gown overlays), historical costume reproduction, textile museums, and fabric conservation labs.
The name comes from the machine that produces it—the bobbinet machine (or bobbin net machine)—which uses many bobbins of thread twisting around warp threads to form the net.
No, by definition, bobbinet is a machine-made fabric. Hand-made nets exist (like filet or some laces), but they are not called bobbinet.
A machine-made, hexagonal-mesh net fabric, often used in veils, dresses, and as a base for lace.
Bobbinet is usually technical / historical / fashion in register.
Bobbinet: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɒb.ɪˈnet/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɑː.bɪˈnet/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BOBBIN (a spool for thread) making a NET. Bobbinet = a net made by bobbins on a machine.
Conceptual Metaphor
FABRIC IS A SKELETON (bobbinet often forms the structural base or 'skeleton' for more decorative lace).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of bobbinet?