01 n. A fabric made of fibrous material (or sometimes of wire, as in wire cloth); commonly, a woven fabric of cotton, woolen, or linen, adapted t…
pl.
Cloths, Clothes ((klŏt͟hz; 115))
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1.
A fabric made of fibrous material (or sometimes of wire, as in wire cloth); commonly, a woven fabric of cotton, woolen, or linen, adapted to be made into garments; specifically, woolen fabrics, as distinguished from all others.
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2.
The dress; raiment. [Obs.] See Clothes.[Obs.] See: Clothes“I'll ne'er distrust my God for cloth and bread.” — Quarles.
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3.
The distinctive dress of any profession, especially of the clergy; hence, the clerical profession.“Appeals were made to the priesthood. Would they tamely permit so gross an insult to be offered to their cloth?” — Macaulay.“The cloth, the clergy, are constituted for administering and for giving the best possible effect to . . . every axiom.” — I. Taylor.
Phrases & compounds
Body cloth —
See under Body.
Cloth of gold —
a fabric woven wholly or partially of threads of gold.
Cloth measure —
the measure of length and surface by which cloth is measured and sold. For this object the standard yard is usually divided into quarters and nails.
Cloth paper —
a coarse kind of paper used in pressing and finishing woolen cloth.
Cloth shearer —
one who shears cloth and frees it from superfluous nap.