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serge

 - 7 dictionary results

serge

1  [surj]
Use serge in a Sentence
–noun
1. a twilled worsted or woolen fabric used esp. for clothing.
2. cotton, rayon, or silk in a twill weave.
Origin:
1350–1400; < F; r. ME sarge < MF < VL *sārica, for L sērica (lāna) Chinese (wool), i.e., silk; see seric-

serge

2  [surj]
–verb (used with object), serged, serg⋅ing.
to overcast (unfinished seams or edges, as in a fabric or rug), esp. by machine, in order to prevent fraying.
Origin:
perh. to be identified with serge 1 , though sense shift is unclear

Serge

  [surj; Fr. serzh]
–noun
a male given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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serge 1   (sûrj)   
n.  A twilled cloth of worsted or worsted and wool, often used for suits.

[Middle English sarge, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *sārica, from Latin sērica (vestis), silken (clothing), feminine of sēricus, silken, from Greek sērikos, of the Seres, silken, from Sēres, a people of eastern Asia, perhaps China.]
serge 2   (sûrj)   
tr.v.   serged, serg·ing, serg·es
To overcast (the raw edges of a fabric) to prevent unraveling.

[Back formation from serging, type of overcast stitch, from serge1.]
serg'er n.
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

serge 
1382, from O.Fr. serge, from V.L. *sarica, in M.L. "cloth of wool mixed with silk or linen," from L. serica (vestis) "silken (garment)," from serica, from Gk. serike, fem. of serikos "silken" (see silk). The Fr. word is the source of Ger. sarsche, Dan. sarge, etc.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia

serge

(from Latin serica, "silk"), fabric much-used for military uniforms, made in an even-sided twill weave and usually clear-finished-that is, the fibre ends on the surface of the cloth are sheared or singed so that the twill weave is prominent. The resulting flat diagonal rib pattern goes from the lower left to the upper right selvage on the right side.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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