gros de tours: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (C2)Specialist / Historical / Luxury Fashion & Textiles
Quick answer
What does “gros de tours” mean?
A finely ribbed silk fabric.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A finely ribbed silk fabric
A high-quality, heavyweight silk characterized by prominent crosswise ribs, historically used for formal wear and upholstery in the fashion and textile industries. The term is borrowed from French.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference. The term is used identically in specialist contexts in both regions. It is equally obscure in general usage.
Connotations
Connotes historical luxury, craftsmanship, and specific textile knowledge. It is a marker of expertise.
Frequency
Extremely rare. Found almost exclusively in academic texts on textile history, museum catalogues, auction house descriptions (e.g., Sotheby's, Christie's), and high-end vintage fashion documentation.
Grammar
How to Use “gros de tours” in a Sentence
[garment/item] made of gros de toursa [noun] in gros de toursgros de tours [noun], e.g., gown, curtainVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gros de tours” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The gros de Tours bodice was exquisitely preserved.
- She sourced a genuine gros de tours remnant for the restoration.
American English
- The gown featured a gros de Tours skirt.
- It was a gros de tours fabric, not a simple faille.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in very niche business sectors: luxury fabric wholesalers, auction houses for antique textiles, bespoke tailors/couturiers referencing historical styles.
Academic
Used in fashion history, textile science, conservation studies, and museum studies when cataloguing 18th-19th century garments or furnishings.
Everyday
Virtually never used. An everyday speaker would say 'a ribbed silk' or 'a heavy silk'.
Technical
A precise technical term in historical textile taxonomy indicating a specific rib structure and weight. Distinguishable from 'gros de Naples' or 'gros de Londres' by the rib spacing and origin.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gros de tours”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gros de tours”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gros de tours”
- Mispronouncing as /ɡroʊs/ instead of /ɡroʊ/.
- Using it as a general term for any thick silk.
- Misspelling as 'gros detours', 'gros de tour', or 'gros de Tours' (capitalization of 'Tours' is sometimes used).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialized historical term used primarily in fashion history, textile conservation, and luxury vintage markets.
In British English: /ˌɡrəʊ də ˈtʊə/. In American English: /ˌɡroʊ də ˈtʊr/. The 's' in 'gros' is silent, and 'de' is pronounced like 'duh'.
Its prominent crosswise ribs (ridges). It is a heavyweight, stiff silk with a distinct ribbed texture.
They are related but distinct. Grosgrain is also ribbed but is often heavier, stiffer, and more commonly used for ribbons and trim. Gros de Tours is primarily a dress and upholstery fabric. In specialist contexts, they are not interchangeable.
A finely ribbed silk fabric.
Gros de tours is usually specialist / historical / luxury fashion & textiles in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GROS (large/fat) TOUR (French for 'tower') with ribs like a muscle. A large, ribbed structure = a heavy, ribbed fabric from Tours.
Conceptual Metaphor
FABRIC IS ARCHITECTURE (with ribs providing structure and form).
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you most likely to encounter the term 'gros de Tours'?