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Added 9 October 2026

tweed

/twiːd/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about tweed at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Thick woolen fabric used for clothing; originated in Scotland.
(usually in the plural) trousers made of flannel or gabardine or tweed or white cloth.

Origin

Attested since the 1830s. Probably a shortening or back-formation from Scots tweedling (“a type of twilled cloth”), attested since the 16th century and related to tweedle; the two words are variants of tweeling and tweel, which go back to Middle English twel, twyle (“a type of woven fabric; twill”), whence also English twill.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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