ˈgrass-cloth
a. A fine light cloth, resembling linen, woven from the fibres of the inner bark of the grass-cloth plant (Boehmeria nivea). b. A thick fabric made in the Canary islands from some vegetable fibre.
| 1857 R. Tomes Amer. in Japan iv. 92 Long flowing robes of yellow and blue grass-cloth. a 1858 N. Wilson in Homans Cycl. Comm. 845 My entire success in the cultivation of the China grass-cloth plant (Bœhmeria nivea) introduced [into Jamaica] in 1854. 1868 Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 306 A water net..is made of grass-cloth or some coarse material. 1883 Burton & Cameron To Gold Coast I. v. 125 The articles of dress [in the Canaries] were grass-cloth, thick as matting [etc.]. 1884 Weekly Scotsman 9 Feb. 1/7 The grass cloth of the Chinese..is said to rival the best French cambric in softness and fineness of texture. |