corduroy

[ kawr-duh-roi, kawr-duh-roi ]

noun

1. a cotton-filling pile fabric with lengthwise cords or ridges.
2. corduroys, trousers made of this fabric.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling corduroy.
2. constructed of logs laid together transversely, as a road across swampy ground.

verb (used with object)

1. to form (a road or the like) by laying logs transversely.
2. to make a corduroy road across or along.

corduroy

/ ˌkɔːdəˈrɔɪ; ˈkɔːdəˌrɔɪ /

noun

1. See also corduroys
   1. a heavy cotton pile fabric with lengthways ribs
   2. ( as modifier )

      a corduroy coat

Word History and Origins

Origin of corduroy¹

1780–90; perhaps cord ( cords ) + duroy, deroy (now obsolete) a woolen fabric originating in W England; later taken as French cord du roy the king's cords, though the fabric had no connection with France

Word History and Origins

Origin of corduroy¹

C18: perhaps from the proper name Corderoy

Example Sentences

As the weather grew cooler, my son discovered a corduroy jacket that had once belonged to my father.

From Washington Post

His slate corduroy trousers were slightly short in the leg—he is a tall, slim man.

From Nautilus

These butterflies require a 12-foot swath of fresh corduroy for their fluttering.

From Outside Online

Once you learn to trust the high edge angles, you’ll leave deep tracks in fresh corduroy.

From Outside Online

Your skis should be there to support you, not turn into a chattery mess the minute you venture off the corduroy.

From Outside Online

But my all-time most memorable item of clothes was a pair of green corduroy trousers I wore for nine months of art school.

From The Daily Beast

An elderly man in a yellow corduroy jacket stood patiently by, waiting to speak.

From The Daily Beast

This kid came in who was wearing corduroy pants, even though it was hot.

From The Daily Beast

He wears the same corduroy pants that Uncle Ben gave him on his twenty-first birthday.

From Project Gutenberg

When only a few planks are used the term "corduroy the bank" is used (see Fig. 37).

From Project Gutenberg

The blazed trail gave way to the corduroy road, and the pack horse to the oxcart or the stage.

From Project Gutenberg

Taking his knife, the boy slit the leg of the corduroy trousers, and then carefully rolled the woolen sock down.

From Project Gutenberg

They were all dressed out in new light-blue capotes and corduroy trousers, which they tied at the knee with beadwork garters.

From Project Gutenberg