satin meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

satin

noun

/ˈsæt.ɪn/ · [ˈsæt.n̩]

Etymology From French satin, which is derived from "Zaitun", the Arabic name for the Chinese city of Quanzhou, itself derived from Arabic زَيْتُون (zaytūn, “Zayton; olive”), from phono-semantic matching from Chinese 刺桐 (MC tshjeH duwng, “coral tree”) in 刺桐城 (MC tshjeH duwng dzyeng, “coral tree town”), an old name for Quanzhou.

1

A cloth woven from silk, nylon or polyester with a glossy surface and a dull back. (The same weaving technique applied to cotton produces cloth termed sateen).

Ibn Batuta informs us that a rich silk texture made here was called Zaitûniya; and there can be little doubt that this is the real origin of our word Satin,—Zettani in mediæval Italian, Aceytuni in Spanish.1878, Henry Yule, "Chinchew" in the Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. V, p. 673

2

Obsolete, Slang Gin (the drink).

'This poor gal was robbed, barely left a stitch, that and the drink... mind, I likes a drop of satin – wot you'd call gin – myself. I'll say nothing against it. She ended thrown out of an upstairs winder.'2014, Richard Gordon, The Private Life of Jack the Ripper, page 13:

Derived terms: 31 terms
antique satin, Denmark satin, farmers' satin, satinash, satin bowerbird, satin carpet, satin damask, satin de chine, satin de laine, satinet, satinette, satinflower, satin flycatcher, satin glass, satinize, satin jean, satinleaf, satinlike, satin paper, satinpod, satin sheeting, satin spar, satin stitch, satin stone, satin weave, satinwood, satiny, slipper satin, surf satin, white satin, yard of satin
Related terms: sateen

satin

adj

Etymology From French satin, which is derived from "Zaitun", the Arabic name for the Chinese city of Quanzhou, itself derived from Arabic زَيْتُون (zaytūn, “Zayton; olive”), from phono-semantic matching from Chinese 刺桐 (MC tshjeH duwng, “coral tree”) in 刺桐城 (MC tshjeH duwng dzyeng, “coral tree town”), an old name for Quanzhou.

1

Semigloss.

satin paint

satin

verb

Etymology From French satin, which is derived from "Zaitun", the Arabic name for the Chinese city of Quanzhou, itself derived from Arabic زَيْتُون (zaytūn, “Zayton; olive”), from phono-semantic matching from Chinese 刺桐 (MC tshjeH duwng, “coral tree”) in 刺桐城 (MC tshjeH duwng dzyeng, “coral tree town”), an old name for Quanzhou.

1

To make (paper, silver, etc.) smooth and glossy like satin.