corduroy

Where does the word "corduroy" come from? It comes from English duroy, and was adopted directly into English (1780s).

Corduroy’s story begins in English: duroy meant “a coarse woolen fabric.” An obsolete English term for a coarse woolen fabric, itself of unknown origin; combined with 'cord' to form the new word. It reached English by 1780s as corduroy. Likely formed in English from 'cord' + 'duroy'; the popular story that it derives from French 'corde du roi' (king's cord) is a folk etymology unattested in French. Today, corduroy means a ribbed cotton fabric with a velvety pile.

1. Stage 1 · English · 1600s-1700s duroy "a coarse woolen fabric", an obsolete English term for a coarse woolen fabric, itself of unknown origin; combined with 'cord' to form the new word.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1780s corduroy "a ribbed cotton fabric", likely formed in English from 'cord' + 'duroy'; the popular story that it derives from French 'corde du roi' (king's cord) is a folk etymology unattested in French.