Etymo

twill

A fabric with a diagonal-rib weave.

Played on · Day 69 · word 2 of 5

A translated piece in the weave

How twill reached English

oldest first
  1. Latin

    bilix

    ‘With a double thread’

  2. Old English

    twilic

    ‘Having a double thread’

  3. Middle English

    twyll

    ‘Cloth woven in parallel diagonal lines’

  4. English

    twill

    ‘The fabric or weave’

The story of twill

Old English twilic described a double thread and partly translated Latin bilix. Middle English twyll continued toward twill.

The first arrow is partial translation, not an ordinary sound change. Twylle is an alternative Middle English spelling.

Sources

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