Tiffany
/ˈtɪf.ə.ni/noun
A sheer, fine silk fabric; also a female given name.
Did you know?The fabric name appears in medieval English from Old French, ultimately from Greek forms linked to the Christian feast of Epiphany, when a sacred revelation was celebrated.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
epiphaneia
“manifestation or appearance, especially a divine appearing”
Late Latin
Latin
epiphania
“the Christian feast of Epiphany”
Old French
Old French
tifaine / tiffany
“the feast of Epiphany; later a fine, sheer silk fabric associated with it”
14th Century
English
tiffany
“a fine, transparent silk fabric”
Modern English
English
Tiffany
“a woman’s given name and a term for the fabric, now rare”
Explore more surprising origins