A silkthread formed of two or more threads twisted together, used especially for the weft, or cross threads, of the best quality of velvets and silk goods.
Possibly from Low German traam, from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch trame, said to be ultimately from a lost West Germanic (Ingvaeonic) word, probably from Proto-Germanic *drum, from Proto-Indo-European *térmn̥, cognate with Latin terminus.
Compare Middle Low German treme; West Flemish traam, trame.
The popular derivation from the surname of the English pioneer tramway builder Benjamin Outram (1764–1805) is false: the term pre-dated him.
From Spanish trama, or French trame. trama.
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