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.
"During their tour of the Hauts-de-France region, the students visited a historic art museum in Valenciennes."
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.