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Where does the word "suede" come from? It comes from French Suède, passing through French before entering English (1850s).
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Where does the word "suede" come from? It comes from French Suède, passing through French before entering English (1850s).
Suede’s story begins in French: Suède meant “Sweden.” The French name for Sweden. Within French, it grew into gants de Suède by 1800s. 'gloves of Sweden', soft kid gloves imported from Sweden. It reached English by 1850s as suede. Shortened from the French glove name and applied to the leather itself. Today, suede means leather with a soft napped surface.
- Stage 1 · French · medieval Suède "Sweden", the French name for Sweden.
- Stage 2 · French · 1800s gants de Suède "Swedish gloves", 'gloves of Sweden', soft kid gloves imported from Sweden.
- Stage 3 · English · 1850s suede "napped leather", shortened from the French glove name and applied to the leather itself.