Definition

Noun: 1. A stiff, coarse fabric: A material, originally made from horsehair ("crin") and linen or cotton, used to give shape and volume to garments, hats, and other items. 2. A stiffened or hooped petticoat or skirt: A structured undergarment, historically made from crinoline fabric or later from steel hoops, designed to hold a woman's skirt out in a wide, bell-like shape, popular in the mid-19th century. 3. A skirt with a stiff, full shape: A garment that achieves the wide, voluminous silhouette characteristic of the historical crinoline.

Examples of Usage

• As a fabric:
  • The milliner used crinoline to give the hat its dramatic, wide brim.
  • The dress's collar was stiffened with a layer of crinoline.
• As a structured undergarment or skirt:
  • In the 1850s, women wore crinolines under their dresses to achieve the fashionable wide skirt shape.
  • The ball gown was so large it required a steel-hooped crinoline underneath.
  • Her wedding dress had a modern crinoline that created a beautiful, full silhouette.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The term is most strongly associated with the Victorian era fashion (c. 1850-1870). The invention of the cage crinoline, using spring steel hoops, made the wide skirts lighter and more manageable than layers of heavy petticoats.
• Modern Fashion: In contemporary usage, "crinoline" often refers to any stiff, net-like fabric or underskirt used to add volume to a dress, gown, or costume, not necessarily made from the original horsehair material.

Variants and Related Words

• Crinolined (adjective): Stiffened or supported by a crinoline.
  • The crinolined skirts of the dancers swayed as they moved.

Synonyms

• Underskirt
• Petticoat (specifically a stiff or hooped one)
• Farthingale (an earlier, Renaissance-era structured underskirt with a similar purpose)

Noun

1. a stiff coarse fabric used to stiffen hats or clothing
2. a full stiff petticoat made of crinoline fabric
3. a skirt stiffened with hoops