Definition

Noun: 1. A soft wool fabric with a colorful swirled pattern of curved shapes: Paisley is a type of textile characterized by its distinctive, intricate pattern of curved, teardrop-shaped motifs, often woven or printed on a soft, fine woolen fabric. 2. The distinctive pattern itself: The term also refers to the ornamental pattern featuring these curved, swirling shapes, regardless of the material it appears on.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Fabric):
  • She wore a beautiful shawl made of paisley.
  • The vintage scarf was crafted from soft cashmere paisley.
• Noun (Pattern):
  • The wallpaper featured an intricate paisley design.
  • He prefers ties with a subtle paisley over solid colors.

Advanced Usage

• As a modifier: "Paisley" is frequently used as an adjective to describe items featuring this pattern.
  • She bought a paisley dress.
  • The room was decorated with paisley curtains.

Variants and Related Words

• Paisley pattern (noun phrase): A more explicit term for the distinctive design.
  • The paisley pattern originated in Persia.

Synonyms

• Pattern: Boteh (the Persian name for the original motif).
• Fabric: Cashmere (when referring to a similar soft wool, but without the specific pattern).

Different Meanings

• Place Name: Paisley is also the name of a town in Scotland, which is the origin of the fabric's name in English. The patterned shawls were imitated there in the 19th century.
  • The textiles were imported from Kashmir and later produced in Paisley, Scotland.

Idioms and Phrases

(This word is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. Its primary use is as a noun or adjective describing a specific pattern or fabric.)

Noun

1. a soft wool fabric with a colorful swirled pattern of curved shapes