gingham

Where does the word "gingham" come from? It comes from Malay ginggang, passing through Dutch before entering English (1600s-1700s).

Gingham’s story begins in Malay: ginggang meant “striped, separate.” Meaning "separate" or "striped", describing the woven pattern. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Dutch as gingang. From Malay 'genggang', striped; Manchester mills later mass-produced checked gingham. It reached English by 1600s-1700s as gingham. Adapted from the Dutch trade term. Today, gingham means a light cotton fabric woven with a checked or striped pattern.

1. Stage 1 · Malay · medieval ginggang "striped, separate", meaning "separate" or "striped", describing the woven pattern.
2. Stage 2 · Dutch · 1600s gingang "a striped or checked cotton cloth", from Malay 'genggang', striped; Manchester mills later mass-produced checked gingham.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s-1700s gingham "a checked or striped cotton fabric", adapted from the Dutch trade term.