lisle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “lisle” mean?
A fine, tightly twisted cotton thread, originally produced in the French town of Lille.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fine, tightly twisted cotton thread, originally produced in the French town of Lille.
Fabric or stockings made from this fine cotton thread, noted for its strength and silky texture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical, though the term may appear more often in British descriptions of historical clothing.
Connotations
Connotes quality, durability, and a traditional, somewhat old-fashioned type of garment.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects; largely archaic outside of specific textile/historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “lisle” in a Sentence
[fabric/garment] made of lislelisle [thread/stockings/gloves]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lisle” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She cherished her grandmother's lisle stockings.
- The vintage pattern called for lisle thread.
American English
- He wore lisle socks for their durability.
- The gloves were made from a delicate lisle fabric.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in textile manufacturing or historical fashion retail descriptions.
Academic
Found in historical, costume, or textile studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
A precise term in textile and hosiery manufacturing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lisle”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lisle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lisle”
- Misspelling as 'lyle' or 'lile'.
- Pronouncing it as /lɪsl/ instead of /laɪl/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare and somewhat archaic term, primarily used in historical or textile-specific contexts.
It is pronounced like 'lile' in 'Nile' or 'mile': /laɪl/.
No, 'lisle' is only used as a noun (for the thread) or as an adjective (describing things made from it, e.g., lisle stockings).
It comes from 'Lisle', the old spelling of Lille, a city in northern France where this type of thread was originally made.
A fine, tightly twisted cotton thread, originally produced in the French town of Lille.
Lisle is usually formal / technical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No common idioms. Term is technical.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Lisle' sounds like 'isle'. Imagine a fine, silky thread winding around the coastline of a small, elegant island.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUALITY IS FINENESS (The finer the thread, the higher the quality).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'lisle' primarily associated with?