muslin

American  

[muhz-lin] / ˈmʌz lɪn /

noun

1. a cotton fabric made in various degrees of fineness and often printed, woven, or embroidered in patterns, especially a cotton fabric of plain weave, used for sheets and for a variety of other purposes.

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muslin British  

/ ˈmʌzlɪn /

noun

1. a fine plain-weave cotton fabric

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Other Word Forms

• undermuslin noun

Etymology

Origin of muslin

1600–10; < French mousseline < Italian mussolina, equivalent to Mussol ( o ) Mosul, Iraq (where first made) + -ina -ine ¹

Compare meaning

How does muslin compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cheesecloth vs. muslin

Example Sentences

What riches this coarse bit of muslin had been in the two weeks since it had been provided: a shield for my head from the scratch and smell of the bedding.

From Literature

Faint moonlight glowed through the muslin curtains at the open window near the foot of the bed.

From Literature

Tucked into a pocket, the muslin pouch has kept my wool winter overcoat smelling fresh—and reminding me of Paris—all season.

From The Wall Street Journal

I am wearing my lightest muslin dress and robe, but all clothing feels heavy in the summer heat.

From Literature

Once bound in muslin cloth and sealed with a layer of lard, Hafod is aged for 18 months.

From BBC