gabardine

Meaning

Noun

• A type of woolen cloth with a diagonal ribbed texture on one side.
• A similar fabric, made from cotton.
• A long cloak.
• A yellow robe that Jews in England were compelled to wear in the year 1189 as a mark of distinction.

Origin

• Recorded since 1904, altering the earlier gaberdine (since 1520), from Spanish gabardina (perhaps influenced by gabán and tabardina), from Middle French galverdine, itself probably from (Old or Middle) High German wallevart, in the sense of “pilgrim's cloak” (from wallen + vart).