buckram

[ buhk-ruhm ]

noun

1. a stiff cotton fabric for interlinings, book bindings, etc.
2. stiffness of manner; extreme preciseness or formality.

verb (used with object)

, buck·ramed, buck·ram·ing.

1. to strengthen with buckram.
2. Archaic. to give a false appearance of importance, value, or strength to.

buckram

/ ˈbʌkrəm /

noun

1. 1. cotton or linen cloth stiffened with size, etc, used in lining or stiffening clothes, bookbinding, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a buckram cover

2. archaic.
   stiffness of manner

verb

1. tr to stiffen with buckram

Word History and Origins

Origin of buckram¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English bokeram, buk(e)ram, from Old French bo(u)querant, Old Italian bucherame, perhaps from Middle High German buckeram, said to be named after Bukhara, once noted for textiles

Word History and Origins

Origin of buckram¹

C14: from Old French boquerant , from Old Provençal bocaran , ultimately from Bukhara , once an important source of textiles

Example Sentences

They value efficiency and aesthetics above all other considerations, and they end up a graveyard of lost opportunities: How will the jacket or the obi interact with the buckram?

From Los Angeles Times

Mrs. Beane made her hats the old-fashioned way, wetting buckram — a stiff cotton — into molds decorated with all manner of fabrics.

From Washington Post

When Becker first began making masks, it was labor intensive, working with water-based clay, petroleum jelly and buckram fabric, he said.

From Washington Times

It looks a little bit like the hard cover of a book; it is made, apparently, from archival-quality buckram linen, which is also used in bookbinding.

From The Verge

Ms. Claire moved to New York, she said, because she couldn’t easily find wire, buckram and other supplies for her work elsewhere in the United States.

From New York Times

Related Words

• arthritic
• creaky
• rigid
• solid
• stark
• tense
• thick
• tight
• wooden