calamanco
(kæləˈmæŋkəʊ)
Forms: 6 calamance, 6–9 cali-, 7 calla-, 7–9 callimanco, (9 calamanca), 7– calamanco.
[Found also in Du. kalamink, kalmink, Ger. kalmank, kalmang, F. calmande, Genev. calamandre: of unknown origin.
The form has naturally suggested connexion with med.L. camelaucus, a kind of cap, and a cloth of camel's hair; but evidence of connexion is wanting. See Du Cange.]
1. A woollen stuff of Flanders, glossy on the surface, and woven with a satin twill and chequered in the warp, so that the checks are seen on one side only; much used in the 18th c.
| 1592 [see 2]. 1598 Florio, Tesserino..a kinde of fine stuffe like..calimanco. 1693 Lond. Gaz. No. 2832/3 His Wastcoat of a Striped Calamanco. 1760 Sterne Tr. Shandy (1802) VII. xvii. 32 A tawny yellow jerkin, turned up with red calamanco! 1848 Thackeray Bk. Snobs iv, The body..trimmed with calimanco. |
b. attrib.
| 1605 Lond. Prodigal i. i. 223 What breeches wore I o' Saturday? Let me see: o' Tuesday my calamanco..o' Thursday, my velure; o' Friday my calamanco again. 1639 Ford Lady's Tr. ii. i, Diamond-button'd callamanco hose. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 96 ¶5 A Red Coat, flung open to show a gay Calamanco Wastcoat. 1812 H. & J. Smith Rej. Addr. (1852) 41 A pair of black calamanco breeches. 1840 Wheeler Westmoreland Dial. Gloss, A calliminky petticoat. |
c. ellipt. Garments of this material.
| 1859 Thackeray Virgin. xxxii, The girls went off straightway to get their best calamancoes, paduasoys..capes, etc. a 1888 U.S. Newspr. The seat of his striped calimancoes. |
2. fig. Applied to: a. language; b. a person.
| 1592 Lyly Midas iv. iii, Doest thou not understand their [huntsmen's] language? Min. Not I! Pet. Tis the best calamance in the world, as easily deciphered as the characters in a nutmeg. 1607 Dekker & Webster Sir T. Wyat 45 A Spaniard is a Camocho, a Calimanco. |
3. Applied to wood and plaster buildings.
| 1792 Misc. Ess. in Ann. Reg. 150/2 The mansion..was of plaister striped with timber, not unaptly called callimanco work. 1822 W. Irving Braceb. Hall (1855) 267 Calimanco houses as they are called by antiquaries. |