valenciennes
valenciennes Lexical Profile
• noun
A city in the Nord department of northern France, situated on the Scheldt river near the Belgian border, historically renowned for its textile and lace-making industries.
A fine, handmade bobbin lace characterized by a floral or geometric pattern worked flat on a square or diamond mesh ground.
"The seamstress delicately sewed a trim of vintage valenciennes along the hem of the baptismal gown."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the textile, 'valenciennes' is typically uncapitalized and treated as an uncountable mass noun; when referring to the French city, it must be capitalized.
• Rhymes for valenciennes
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after Valenciennes, a city in the Nord department of northern France, where this distinctive type of bobbin lace was originally manufactured during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.