Definition of DAMASK

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Noun

The English noun "damask" entered Middle English (as "damaske") from Medieval Latin damascus, taken from the name of the city of Damascus, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. In contemporary English "damask" is applied to a lustrous fabric with a satin weave design, as well as to a type of steel (also called "Damascus steel") ornamented with a variegated surface and to a grayish red color associated with the damask rose. While the fabric, the steel, and the damask rose probably did not originate in Damascus, their long association with the ancient city has nevertheless impressed itself upon the English language.

Examples of damask in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Upholstery, whether for curtains, pillows, or furniture, tend to favor high-end fabrics like silk, velvet, and leather, and bold pattern comes in the form of damask, plaid, or paisley. — Sienna Fantozzi, House Beautiful, "Everything You Need To Know About Traditional Design," 12 Oct. 2018 Patterns range from stripes and geometrics to florals and damasks, all using Farrow & Ball’s traditional trough and block printing methods. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "Farrow & Ball launches whimsical wallpaper at Anthropologie," 27 Aug. 2018 In a London townhouse decorated by Rob Southern, entry walls are covered in a classic damask pattern printed on raffia paper by Stark. — Sarah Yang, House Beautiful, "Top Pin of the Day: An Entry in a London Townhouse," 10 June 2014 Silk damask, Delobo in Coral on Natural — Pintura Studio (T); pinturastudio.com. — House Beautiful, "March 2018 Product Guide," 6 Feb. 2018 Coben took inspiration from Victorian textiles to create a custom damask motif for wall coverings in a subdued palette of blues, grays, and metallics, an update on the usual scheme of deep reds and burgundies. — Jennifer Fernandez, ELLE Decor, "Be The First To Stay At This Stunning Saratoga Springs Grande Dame Hotel Reborn," 17 Nov. 2017 Wolfe, presumably with hands in pockets, has pulled his pale jacket back to reveal the famed vestee, the wide damask tie skewered with a fancy cravat pin, pocket handkerchief fanning open like a magnolia in bloom. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, "Tom Wolfe: Remembering the Iconic Style of “The Man in the White Suit”," 15 May 2018 Each of the seven lavish suites is swathed in damask, silk brocade and zellige. — Lindsay Cohn, ELLE Decor, "Why Every Culture Aficionado Needs to Visit Fez, Morocco," 6 Mar. 2018 Find your fabric: Cotton has a lighter more casual feel, while denser fabrics, like damask or velvet, feel more formal. — Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, "8 things to consider when buying drapes. It's more than finding the right fabric," 27 Feb. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

One of the documents, according to Clarke, includes an inventory of all the fineries that were transferred to Tutbury when Mary left the Earl of Shrewsbury’s charge—a list that includes damask tablecloths and napkins, plates, bowls and basins. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "These Letters Tell the Inside Story of Mary, Queen of Scots’ Imprisonment," 8 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'damask.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.