Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A lightweight plain-woven fabric woven with white threads across a colored warp.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A kind of gingham in plain colors with linen finish, used for women's gowns.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A gingham woven in plain colors with linen finish.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A soft fabric woven with a white weft and coloured warp.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a lightweight fabric woven with white threads across a colored warp

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Alteration of French cambrai, cambric, after Cambrai, a city of northern France.]

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Examples

  • Flouting the traditional fashion warning against wearing denim on both top and bottom, the designer likes to pair bright jeans with classic collared shirts in chambray, a lightweight, often pale-blue fabric that is similar to denim.

    A Light Touch With Summer Denim Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan 2011

  • When she turned, Ridge appeared in the doorway, dressed in snug-fitting jeans and a chambray shirt with a brown, work-stained cowboy hat shading his face.

    Western Man Janet Dailey 2011

  • “Why are you here?” she asked, eyeing him curiously, taking in his dirty jeans, his sleeveless chambray shirt.

    A Light at Winter’s End Julia London 2011

  • She often wears her chambray shirt tucked in or tied at the waist.

    A Light Touch With Summer Denim Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan 2011

  • Match the critter with a weather-worn leather belt, beat-up Carhartt workmen pants and a chambray shirt.

    Shoot From the Hip 2011

  • You know, low slung jeans, chambray shirt hanging loose and unbuttoned.

    Angels' Blood Countdown: Lora Leigh - Nauti Intentions ARC Nalini Singh 2009

  • Black Chambray and Vintage Leaf Two Tone: a classic black chambray front's offset by a back made from a loose-leaf pattern "clearly inspired by Japanese paintings" on '50s-era rayon shantung, not to be confused with rayon Wang Chung, as that only comes in Dance Hall grays.

    Thrillist: General Knot & Co: Dapper Looks From Salvaged Materials Thrillist 2011

  • Ask about the provenance of a chambray shirt or a pair of house-label jeans, and you're liable to wind up getting a mini-lesson on American fashion history disguised as a funny story about the road trip they took to the factory.

    10 of the best shops in Brooklyn, New York 2011

  • “Why are you here?” she asked, eyeing him curiously, taking in his dirty jeans, his sleeveless chambray shirt.

    A Light at Winter’s End Julia London 2011

  • Anna opened the show with a chambray cape that had a demure military sensibility.

    Michelle Madhok: Get the Look of Anna Sui's Spring Collection for Under $50 Michelle Madhok 2010

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