fustian

fustian
fustian "thick cotton cloth," c.1200, from O.Fr. fustaigne, from M.L. fustaneum, probably from L. fustis "staff, stick of wood," probably a loan-translation of Gk. xylina lina "linens of wood" (i.e. "cotton"), but the M.L. word also is sometimes said to be from Fostat, town near Cairo where this cloth was manufactured. [Klein finds this derivation untenable.] Figurative sense of "pompous, inflated language" recorded by 1590s.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fustian — (also called bombast) is a term for a variety of heavy woven, mostly cotton fabrics, chiefly prepared for menswear. It is also used to refer to pompous, inflated or pretentious writing or speech, from at least the time of Shakespeare. History and …   Wikipedia

  • Fustian — Fus tian, a. 1. Made of fustian. [1913 Webster] 2. Pompous; ridiculously tumid; inflated; bombastic; as, fustian history. Walpole. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fustian — Fus tian, n. [OE. fustan, fustian, OF. fustaine, F. futaine, It. fustagno, fr. LL. fustaneum, fustanum; cf. Pr. fustani, Sp. fustan. So called from Fust[=a]t, i. e., Cairo, where it was made.] 1. A kind of coarse twilled cotton or cotton and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fustian — [fus′chən, fust′yən] n. [ME < OFr fustaigne < ML fustaneum (< L fustis, wooden stick) used as transl. of Gr xylinon < xylinos, wooden (in LXX, cotton)] 1. Historical a coarse cloth of cotton and linen 2. a thick cotton cloth with a… …   English World dictionary

  • fustian — I adjective bombastic, declamatory, flatulent, gausape, grandiloquent, grandiose, high flown, high sounding, inflated, mouthy, orotund, pompous, pretentious, ranting, swollen, tumid, turgid II noun affectation, altiloquence, bombast, bombastic… …   Law dictionary

  • fustian — n rant, rodomontade, *bombast, rhapsody …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • fustian — [adj] pompous arrogant, boastful, bombastic, conceited, flaunting, high and mighty*, highfalutin, lofty, ostentatious, pontifical, portentous, pretentious, puffed up*, ranting, self centered, self important, vain, vainglorious; concepts… …   New thesaurus

  • fustian — ► NOUN ▪ a thick, hard wearing twilled cloth. ORIGIN from Latin pannus fustaneus cloth from Fostat , a suburb of Cairo …   English terms dictionary

  • fustian — /fus cheuhn/, n. 1. a stout fabric of cotton and flax. 2. a fabric of stout twilled cotton or of cotton and low quality wool, with a short nap or pile. 3. inflated or turgid language in writing or speaking: Fustian can t disguise the author s… …   Universalium

  • fustian — noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French fustian, fustayn, from Medieval Latin fustaneum, probably from fustis tree trunk, from Latin, stick, cudgel Date: 13th century 1. a. a strong cotton and linen fabric b. a class of cotton fabrics… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

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