Batik
/bəˈtiːk/noun
A method of decorating fabric by applying wax to areas that resist dye, producing intricate patterns.
Did you know?In Java, batik patterns historically communicated social status, marital identity, and ceremonial meaning, with some designs once reserved for royalty.
Etymological Timeline
Before the 18th Century
Javanese
ambatik
“A traditional Javanese term associated with creating marks or dots on cloth; its exact formation is debated.”
Before the 18th Century
Javanese
tik
“A mark, dot, or small point; commonly proposed as the root associated with batik.”
18th Century
Javanese
batik
“The wax-resist textile technique and the patterned cloth produced by it.”
19th Century
Malay
batik
“A patterned cloth made with wax-resist dyeing, as the term spread beyond Java.”
19th–20th Century
Dutch
batik
“The Indonesian textile art known in European trade and colonial writing.”
Modern English
English
batik
“A fabric and decorative technique using wax to block dye and create designs.”