floorcloth

[ flawr-klawth, -kloth, flohr- ]

noun

, plural floor·cloths [flawr, -klaw, th, z, -klo, th, z, -klawths, -kloths, flohr, -].

1. a cloth for washing or wiping floors.
2. a piece of cloth or the like, as crash, drugget, or linoleum, used with or without a carpet for covering a floor.
3. ground cloth.

Word History and Origins

Origin of floorcloth¹

First recorded in 1740–50; floor + cloth

Example Sentences

Search online for “floorcloth” and you’ll find directions for making one yourself, or you can order one from artists who have revived the craft of making floorcoverings from canvas or other materials and paint.

From Washington Post

Kamptulicon, kamp-tū′li-kon, n. a ground cork and caoutchouc floorcloth.

From Project Gutenberg

All the time I was a partner in that floorcloth factory, I never interfered in the conduct of it, beyond signing my name occasionally—which was all they allowed me to do—and they took the earliest opportunity of buying me out.

From Project Gutenberg

“What! will you have me, then?” cried the little man in ecstasies, and the next moment there was the sound of such a kiss heard in that passage that it rolled along, vibrating from floorcloth to ceiling, and actually echoed; not that one would have recorded the fact, only this was such a tremendously big kiss, and one that echoes is really worthy of mention.

From Project Gutenberg

“What! will you have me, then?” cried the little man in ecstasies, and the next moment there was the sound of such a kiss heard in that passage that it rolled along, vibrating from floorcloth to ceiling, and actually echoed; not that one would have recorded the fact, only this was such a tremendously big kiss, and one that echoes is really worthy of mention.

From Project Gutenberg