serge

serge¹

/serrj/, n.

1. a twilled worsted or woolen fabric used esp. for clothing.

2. cotton, rayon, or silk in a twill weave.

[1350-1400; < F; r. ME sarge < MF < VL *sarica, for L serica (lana) Chinese (wool), i.e., silk; see SERIC-]

serge²

/serrj/, v.t., serged, serging.

to overcast (unfinished seams or edges, as in a fabric or rug), esp. by machine, in order to prevent fraying.

[perh. to be identified with SERGE¹, though sense shift is unclear]

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▪ fabric

      (from Latin serica, “silk”), fabric much-used for military uniforms, made in an even-sided twill weave and usually clear-finished—that is, the fibre ends on the surface of the cloth are sheared or singed so that the twill weave is prominent. The resulting flat diagonal rib pattern goes from the lower left to the upper right selvage on the right side.

      Serge was originally made of silk or wool but is now sometimes made of other single fibres or of wool blended with other fibres.

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