seersucker

[ seer-suhk-er ]

noun

1. a plainwoven cotton, rayon, or linen fabric: traditionally a striped cotton with alternate stripes crinkled in the weaving.

seersucker

/ ˈsɪəˌsʌkə /

noun

1. a light cotton, linen, or other fabric with a crinkled surface and often striped

Word History and Origins

Origin of seersucker¹

1715–25; < Hindi sīrsakar < Persian shīr o shakar literally, milk and sugar

Word History and Origins

Origin of seersucker¹

C18: from Hindi śīrśakar, from Persian shīr o shakkar, literally: milk and sugar

Example Sentences

When most people think of “Matlock,” they envision a burly, white-haired Andy Griffith as the titular character, a folksy but clever defense attorney with a Southern drawl who often sported a seersucker suit.

From Los Angeles Times

In his typical uniform of loose cotton shirt and seersucker Bermuda shorts, Gruselle has performed a range of duties: serving trays of fresh mango or papaya for breakfast; arranging water-skiing excursions; recommending fabric shops; securing reservations at the Peponi Hotel, a Lamu hot spot; and wrangling six donkeys to stage a makeshift Nativity scene at Christmas.

From Seattle Times

The denizens of Millionaire’s Row wore white linen, seersucker suits, flowery hats and expensive lace versus the short pants and bathing suits among those who lived in the infield.

From Salon

Wearing a seersucker suit and looking a tad terrified, Wes Anderson took the stage not long ago at the Venice Film Festival to accept the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award, a prize, he said, that has a “biblical” ring to it.

From Los Angeles Times

“Trump Allies Want a New Style of Lawyer if He Returns to Power” was the original online headline for the piece, as if maybe they were talking about colorful drawling Southerners with seersucker suits, rather than rabid-dog ideologues who would do the dirty work of overturning an election that career government attorneys refused to do before Jan. 6, 2021.

From Salon