Meaning & use
black bombazine
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Meaning
noununcountableold-fashionedrare
A dull, black fabric woven from silk and wool, traditionally used for mourning dress in the 19th century.
Grammar: Uncountable when referring to the material: 'a dress made of black bombazine'.
Patterns
- made of black bombazine
- a black bombazine dress
The widow wore a long gown of black bombazine, as was customary at the time.
In the novel, the servants were dressed in plain black bombazine.
Common combinations
- a dress of black bombazine
- She appeared in a dress of black bombazine, signaling her mourning.
- black bombazine veil
- Her face was hidden behind a black bombazine veil.
- wear black bombazine
- During the period of mourning, the family wore black bombazine.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mourning crepe
- A different fabric, often with a crinkled texture, also used for mourning; black bombazine is smoother and heavier.
Word family
- bombazine noun
- The base fabric, which can be dyed various colors, though black was most common for mourning.
Commonly confused: black bombazine or bombast?
black bombazine vs bombast
Bombast means pompous speech, not fabric. 'Black bombazine' is a material; 'bombast' is a style of language.
Practice
In which context would you most likely encounter 'black bombazine'?
Choose one answer.
Black bombazine is a historical mourning fabric, so it appears in period novels. Modern blogs, chemistry texts, and sports reports are unlikely to mention it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “black bombazine”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.