Broadcloth
/ˈbrɔːdˌklɔːθ/noun
A dense, fine woolen cloth with a smooth finish, traditionally used for high-quality garments.
Did you know?Broadcloth was prized in medieval and early modern Europe because its tightly woven, heavily fulled finish made it look almost seamless—an expensive textile that signaled status as much as warmth.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mreǵʰ-
“to stretch or extend”
Old English
OE
brād
“broad, wide”
Old English
OE
clǣþ
“cloth, garment”
Middle English
ME
brod clath
“wide cloth; a type of woolen fabric”
Early Modern English
English
broadcloth
“a fine, dense woolen cloth made in a broad width”
Modern English
English
broadcloth
“a dense, fine woolen cloth with a smooth finish”