Scarlet (cloth)

Scarlet (cloth)

Scarlet was a type of fine and expensive woollen cloth common in Medieval England.

The name derives from the Latin "scarlata", and that again from the Persian "saqirlat". The weaving technique also had its origin in Central Asia, and made the cloth elastic by twisting the yarn. Because of this property, it was often used for stockings and tights.

Scarlet cloth was produced in red, white, blue, green, and brown colors, among others. The most common color was carmine red, though, which resulted in the double meaning of the word as a color designation.

It is probable that name of the character Will Scarlett in the Robin Hood legends referred to this type of cloth, similarly to the common occupational surnames (e.g. Weaver, Cooper, Fletcher, etc.).


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • scarlet — (n.) mid 13c., rich cloth (often, but not necessarily, bright red in color), from an aphetic form of O.Fr. escarlate (12c., Mod.Fr. écarlate), from M.L. scarlatum scarlet, cloth of scarlet (Cf. It. scarlatto, Sp. escarlate), probably via a Middle …   Etymology dictionary

  • Scarlet — or Scarlett (often used interchangeably) may refer to a number of things or people:Things * Scarlet (color), a bright shade of red * Scarlet (cloth), a type of woollen cloth common in medieval England * Scarlet (magazine), a women s magazine in… …   Wikipedia

  • Scarlet — Scar let, a. Of the color called scarlet; as, a scarlet cloth or thread. [1913 Webster] {Scarlet admiral} (Zo[ o]l.), the red admiral. See under {Red}. Scarlet bean (Bot.), a kind of bean ({Phaseolus multiflorus}) having scarlet flowers; scarlet… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scarlet admiral — Scarlet Scar let, a. Of the color called scarlet; as, a scarlet cloth or thread. [1913 Webster] {Scarlet admiral} (Zo[ o]l.), the red admiral. See under {Red}. Scarlet bean (Bot.), a kind of bean ({Phaseolus multiflorus}) having scarlet flowers;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scarlet fever — Scarlet Scar let, a. Of the color called scarlet; as, a scarlet cloth or thread. [1913 Webster] {Scarlet admiral} (Zo[ o]l.), the red admiral. See under {Red}. Scarlet bean (Bot.), a kind of bean ({Phaseolus multiflorus}) having scarlet flowers;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scarlet fish — Scarlet Scar let, a. Of the color called scarlet; as, a scarlet cloth or thread. [1913 Webster] {Scarlet admiral} (Zo[ o]l.), the red admiral. See under {Red}. Scarlet bean (Bot.), a kind of bean ({Phaseolus multiflorus}) having scarlet flowers;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scarlet ibis — Scarlet Scar let, a. Of the color called scarlet; as, a scarlet cloth or thread. [1913 Webster] {Scarlet admiral} (Zo[ o]l.), the red admiral. See under {Red}. Scarlet bean (Bot.), a kind of bean ({Phaseolus multiflorus}) having scarlet flowers;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scarlet maple — Scarlet Scar let, a. Of the color called scarlet; as, a scarlet cloth or thread. [1913 Webster] {Scarlet admiral} (Zo[ o]l.), the red admiral. See under {Red}. Scarlet bean (Bot.), a kind of bean ({Phaseolus multiflorus}) having scarlet flowers;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scarlet mite — Scarlet Scar let, a. Of the color called scarlet; as, a scarlet cloth or thread. [1913 Webster] {Scarlet admiral} (Zo[ o]l.), the red admiral. See under {Red}. Scarlet bean (Bot.), a kind of bean ({Phaseolus multiflorus}) having scarlet flowers;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scarlet oak — Scarlet Scar let, a. Of the color called scarlet; as, a scarlet cloth or thread. [1913 Webster] {Scarlet admiral} (Zo[ o]l.), the red admiral. See under {Red}. Scarlet bean (Bot.), a kind of bean ({Phaseolus multiflorus}) having scarlet flowers;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”