Definitions

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

  • noun A sheer fabric of silk, rayon, or nylon made in a variety of tight smooth weaves or open lacy patterns.

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

  • noun A sheer fabric of silk, rayon, or nylon made in a variety of tight smooth weaves or open lacy patterns.

Etymologies

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

[Probably from French Ninon, nickname for Anne.]

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Examples

  • I wish I had bought three yards more of that cerise ninon.

    The Imaginary Marriage Henry St. John Cooper

  • If you want a silk _tricot_ you ask for "_djersador_," while a coarser texture is "_djersacier_"; "_mousseux_" now describes velvet as well as champagne; _ninon_ is known as

    Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 156, March 5, 1919 Various

  • She wore a pretty but very simple dance-frock of flame-colored ninon, in which I had seen her at the Carlton on the night when I set out to meet the man Tarrant and was so nearly caught.

    The Golden Face A Great 'Crook' Romance William Le Queux 1895

  • Charming in a soft white ninon gown and a big white hat, she held a tennis-racket in her hand, presenting a pretty picture framed by the dark doorway.

    Hushed Up! A Mystery of London William Le Queux 1895

  • Black serge, grey tweed, violet ninon; two evening frocks, and the one white satin which was the _piece de resistance_ of the whole.

    A College Girl George de Horne Vaizey 1887

  • Claire, darling, _would_ you have gold tissue under this ninon, or just

    The Independence of Claire George de Horne Vaizey 1887

  • They were quietly but very elegantly dressed, handsome furs being thrown back, to show pretty bodices of ninon and lace.

    The Independence of Claire George de Horne Vaizey 1887

  • a woman friend may be, the prospect of meeting her does not inspire a fellow-woman with sufficient energy to sit up until after midnight to cover a shabby lace blouse with ninon, or to put a new silk collar and cuffs on a half-worn coat.

    The Independence of Claire George de Horne Vaizey 1887

Comments

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  • A sheer fabric of silk, rayon, or nylon made in a variety of tight smooth weaves or open lacy patterns.

    (Probably from French Ninon, nickname for Anne.)

    August 25, 2007

  • Citation on struthious.

    June 5, 2008