Damask

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdæm.É™sk/

Origin

From Damascus, where the fabric was originally made.

Full definition of damask

Noun

1. An ornate silk fabric originating from Damascus.True damasks are pure silk.
• 1836, Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers...but what struck Tom's fancy most was a strange, grim-looking, high backed chair, carved in the most fantastic manner, with a flowered damask cushion, and the round knobs at the bottom of the legs carefully tied up in red cloth, as if it had got the gout in its toes.
2. Linen so woven that a pattern is produced by the different directions of the thread, without contrast of colour.
3. A heavy woolen or worsted stuff with a pattern woven in the same way as the linen damask; made for furniture covering and hangings.
4. Damascus steel; also, the peculiar markings or "water" of such steel.
5. A , .
6. A grayish-pink color, like that of the damask rose.
• 1849, Charles Dickens, David CopperfieldThursday. D. certainly improved. Better night. Slight tinge of damask revisiting cheek.

Adjective

1. Of a grayish-pink color, like that of the damask rose.
• 1973, Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetMy cage has many rooms
  Damask and dark
  Nothing there sings,
  Not even my lark.
• 1602, William Shakespeare, Twelfth NightBut let concealment, like a worm i' the bud,
  Feed on her damask cheek
• 1849, Charles Dickens, David CopperfieldThey had a lurking suspicion even, that he died of secret love; though I must say there was a picture of him in the house with a damask nose, which concealment did not appear to have ever preyed upon.

Verb

1. To decorate or weave in damascene patterns

Derived terms

• damascene
• damask plum
• damask rose
• Damask steel