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chiffon

 - 4 dictionary results

chif⋅fon

[shi-fon, shif-on]
–noun
1. a sheer fabric of silk, nylon, or rayon in plain weave.
2. any women's dress ornament, as ribbon or lace.
–adjective
3. (of dresses, scarves, etc.) resembling or made of chiffon.
4. (in cooking) having a light, frothy texture, as certain pies and cakes containing beaten egg whites.

Origin:
1755–65; < F, equiv. to chiffe rag (< Ar shiff sheer fabric) + -on n. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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chif·fon   (shĭ-fŏn', shĭf'ŏn')   
n.  
  1. A fabric of sheer silk or rayon.

  2. Ornamental accessories, such as ribbons or laces, for women's clothing.

adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or resembling the fabric chiffon.

  2. Made light and fluffy by the addition of beaten egg whites or gelatin: a lemon chiffon pie.


[French, rag, chiffon, from chiffe, old rag, perhaps variant of Old French chipe, of Germanic origin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

chiffon 
1765, from Fr., dim. of chiffe "a rag, piece of cloth," perhaps a variant of Eng. chip. Extension to pastry is 1929.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia

chiffon

in textiles, lightweight, sheer fabric of plain weave, usually of silk or one of the synthetic fibres. Although delicate in appearance, it is a relatively strong, balanced fabric and can be dyed or printed for use in dresses, millinery, scarves, and lampshades. The word chiffon is also used as a modifier to mean a lightweight or softly draping condition-e.g., chiffon velvet and chiffon taffeta.

Learn more about chiffon with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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