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chained_bear commented on the word oznabrig
More commonly spelled osnaburg, but also osnabrig, oznaburg, etc. (I chose this spelling because that's how it's spelled in the primary source I copied the list from.) A heavy, coarse cloth. In eighteenth-century America, it was used mostly for rough work clothing, such as that worn by laborers, soldiers, and enslaved people.
Captured at Yorktown: "71 and a half yards oznabrigs, damaged." This was listed separately from red cloth, red flannel, blue cloth, white cloth, and linen.
October 29, 2007
reesetee commented on the word oznabrig
Neat word! Any clues about its origins?
October 29, 2007
chained_bear commented on the word oznabrig
Yeah, I think it's from the Austrian town of Osnabrück. It might have more details in one of the dictionaries. Signed, too lazy to click on a link.
October 29, 2007
chained_bear commented on the word oznabrig
Update: The OED's listing for osnaburg:
n. As a mass noun: a kind of coarse linen (and later cotton) cloth originally made at Osnabrück, used esp. for making rough hard-wearing clothing, or for furnishings, sacks, tents, etc. As a count noun (usu. in pl., sometimes treated as sing.): a quantity of this; (also) an item or items made of such cloth, esp. (formerly) clothing given to servants or slaves.
October 29, 2007
reesetee commented on the word oznabrig
Oops. Sorry. Should have checked the other spellings.
October 29, 2007
chained_bear commented on the word oznabrig
Another usage/discussion on Negro cloth.
September 26, 2009