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Camlet

3 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a historic woven fabric, originally of camel or goat hair and later of wool and silk, used for cloaks and coats

Where does the word "camlet" come from? It comes from Arabic khamlat, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
khamlat
Arabic · medieval
"woolen plush cloth"
described the nap or pile of a plush woven cloth
2
Stage 2 of 3
camelot
Old French · 1200s
"fine woven fabric"
folk etymology tied the fabric's name to "camel," as if woven from camel hair
3
Stage 3 of 3
camlet
Middle English · 1300s
"fine goat-hair or wool fabric"
entered English as a prized import fabric from the Levant
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