Satin
/ˈsætɪn/noun
A smooth, glossy fabric woven with a lustrous surface.
Did you know?The word ultimately traces back to the port of Zaytūn in medieval China, where the fabric was associated with imported silks and became a prestige word in Arabic and European trade.
Etymological Timeline
Modern English
English
satin
“A smooth, glossy woven fabric”
16th Century
French
satin
“A lustrous silk fabric”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
zaytūnī
“Of or from Zaytūn; a fine fabric associated with that port”
Medieval Chinese
Chinese
Zaytūn
“The medieval Arabic name for the Chinese port of Quanzhou”
Proto-Sinitic/Chinese trade name
Chinese
Quánzhōu
“A major port city in Fujian associated with export silk”