orphrey

Meaning

Noun

• Any elaborate embroidery, especially when made of gold thread; an object (such as clothing or fabric) adorned with such embroidery.
• An embroidered ornamental band or border on an ecclesiastical vestment, altar frontal, etc.

Origin

• From Middle English orfray, orfrei, orefreys, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French orfrais, orfreis, orfrois, and other forms, from Late Latin aurifrasium, aurifrisium, and other forms, from Latin aurum Phrygium, from aurum + Phrygium (neuter singular of Phrygius, the Phrygians being renowned for their gold embroidery). The English word is cognate with Late Latin orfrasium, orfresium, Old Occitan aurfre, aurfres, orfres (modern Occitan aurfrés), Spanish orofrés.