Definition

Noun: A fine, closely woven, plain-weave cotton fabric, typically characterized by its smooth texture, matte finish, and high thread count. It is commonly used for high-quality bed sheets and apparel.

Usage

Percale refers specifically to the type of fabric itself, not the finished product (like sheets). It describes the material's weave and quality. * Percale is known for being crisp, cool, and breathable. * She prefers percale sheets for their smooth, matte feel. * This shirt is made from a lightweight percale cotton.

Examples

• The hotel uses luxurious percale for all its bed linens.
• Compared to sateen, percale has a more crisp and cool hand feel.
• Look for a high thread count when buying percale to ensure durability.

Advanced Usage

• "Percale weave": A technical term specifying the plain (one-over, one-under) weaving pattern that defines this fabric.
  • The durability of the sheet comes from its simple percale weave.

Variants and Related Words

• Percale sheets (noun phrase): Bed sheets made from percale fabric. This is a common compound term where "percale" functions as an adjective.
  • We bought a set of white percale sheets.

Synonyms

• Plain weave fabric: A more general technical term.
• Cambric: A similar fine, plain-woven fabric, though historically of linen.

Antonyms

• Sateen: A fabric with a satin weave, producing a smooth, lustrous surface, unlike percale's matte finish.
• Flannel: A soft, loosely woven fabric, often brushed for warmth, contrasting with percale's crisp, cool weave.

Noun

1. a fine closely woven cotton fabric