tarlatan

[ tahr-luh-tn, -tuhn ]

noun

1. a thin, plain-weave, open-mesh cotton fabric finished with stiffening agents and sometimes glazed.

tarlatan

/ ˈtɑːlətən /

noun

1. an open-weave cotton fabric, used for stiffening garments

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarlatan¹

First recorded in 1720–30; from French tarlatane, dissimilated variant of tarnatane kind of cloth originally imported from India; further origin unknown

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarlatan¹

C18: from French tarlatane, variant of tarnatane type of muslin, perhaps of Indian origin

Example Sentences

Tarlatan and tulle were cheap at Nice, so she enveloped herself in them on such occasions, and following the sensible English fashion of simple dress for young girls, got up charming little toilettes with fresh flowers, a few trinkets, and all manner of dainty devices, which were both inexpensive and effective.

From Literature

So out came the tarlatan, looking older, limper, and shabbier than ever beside Sallie’s crisp new one.

From Literature

It is at this time in the life of the houses and their dwellers that Mary and I collect them and bring them home and put them into little tarlatan bags.

From Project Gutenberg

There will often come out of one of the galls that Mary and I have in a tarlatan bag, not one kind of insect, but several kinds, and only one of these kinds is the regular proper house-owner.

From Project Gutenberg

It did not wear the traditional gray tarlatan armor of Hamlet's father, the only ghost with whom I am well acquainted; this spectre was clad in substantial deer-skin garments, and carried a gun and loaded game-bag.

From Project Gutenberg