Corduroy
/ˈkɔːr.də.rɔɪ/noun
A durable ribbed fabric, usually made of cotton, with raised vertical wales.
Did you know?Despite the popular tale that corduroy means “king’s cord” from French corde du roi, historical evidence does not support a royal French origin.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
khordē
“Gut, animal sinew, or string; the ancient source of the broader cord-and-chord family.”
Classical Latin
Latin
chorda
“String or cord, borrowed from Greek.”
Old French
Old French
corde
“Cord, rope, or string, from Latin chorda.”
17th–18th Century
English
duroy
“The name of a coarse woolen or ribbed textile; its own origin is uncertain.”
Late 18th Century
English
corduroy
“A textile name apparently formed or reshaped from cord and duroy.”
Modern English
English
corduroy
“A ribbed fabric characterized by raised vertical ridges, or clothing made from it.”