pekin

A man in traditional pekin walks through a bustling market street.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of fine silk fabric: "Pekin" refers to a lightweight silk fabric, originally from China, often used for clothing or decorative purposes.
   • A civilian (in historical contexts): In certain historical or military contexts, "pekin" denotes a civilian, as opposed to a soldier or military personnel.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She wore a beautiful dress made of pekin. (A dress made from a fine silk fabric.)
  • During the siege, the pekin were evacuated from the city. (Civilians were removed for safety.)

Advanced Usage

• Historical context: The term "pekin" was sometimes used in colonial or military settings to describe non-military residents, especially in Asian regions.

  • The officers separated the soldiers from the pekin. (The military distinguished between troops and civilians.)

• Textile usage: "Pekin" is a specific type of silk, often characterized by its smooth texture and subtle sheen.

  • The merchant imported rolls of pekin from the East. (The fabric was brought from Asia.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pekin silk (n): another name for the fabric, emphasizing its silk composition.

  • The gown was made of pekin silk, which felt luxurious. (A high-quality silk fabric.)

• Peking (n): the former romanization of Beijing, China's capital, from which the term "pekin" is derived.

  • The pekin fabric originated in Peking. (The city associated with the material.)

Synonyms

• Civilian: a person not in the military (for the second definition).
• Silk: a general term for the fabric (for the first definition).
  • The pekin was similar to other silks but lighter. (The fabric was comparable to other types of silk.)

Related Idioms

• No idioms directly associated: "Pekin" is a specific term without common idiomatic usage in English.

Phrasal Verbs

• No phrasal verbs: "Pekin" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.