bombazine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ArchaicHistorical / Literary / Technical (Textiles)
Quick answer
What does “bombazine” mean?
A twilled fabric, originally of silk or silk and wool, often dyed black and used for mourning clothes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A twilled fabric, originally of silk or silk and wool, often dyed black and used for mourning clothes.
Historically, a durable, lustrous fabric used for formal or somber attire, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes Victorian or Edwardian mourning attire, historical costume, or antiquated fashion.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use in both regions, surviving mainly in historical novels or costume history.
Grammar
How to Use “bombazine” in a Sentence
[made] of bombazinedressed in bombazinea [gown/suit] of bombazineVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bombazine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Her bombazine gown was impeccably severe.
- The bombazine material had a distinctive sheen.
American English
- She wore a bombazine dress to the funeral.
- The antique bombazine fabric felt coarse to the touch.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or fashion/textile studies to describe period garments.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
May appear in textile history or costume conservation to specify fabric composition.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bombazine”
- Misspelling as 'bombasin', 'bombazene'.
- Using it to refer to modern synthetic fabrics.
- Pronouncing the 'zine' part as /zaɪn/ (like 'magazine') instead of /ziːn/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not produced commercially for general use. It may be reproduced by specialist historical costume fabric suppliers for reenactment or theatre.
Historically, yes, but it became so strongly associated with mourning that black is the colour most referenced in literature and historical accounts.
Social customs around mourning have changed dramatically, and the specific fabric fell out of fashion, making the term obsolete in everyday language.
It is primarily an uncountable noun (like 'cotton' or 'wool'). You refer to 'some bombazine' or 'a length of bombazine'.
A twilled fabric, originally of silk or silk and wool, often dyed black and used for mourning clothes.
Bombazine is usually historical / literary / technical (textiles) in register.
Bombazine: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɒmbəˈziːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɑːmbəˈziːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BOMB' (something heavy/dull) + 'ZINE' (like magazine) -> a heavy, dull fabric you might read about in old magazines.
Conceptual Metaphor
FABRIC IS A SOCIAL SIGNIFIER (specifically for grief and status in mourning).
Practice
Quiz
In what context would you most likely encounter the word 'bombazine'?