noun
bolt
A roll of fabric or similar material.
The tailor unrolls a bolt of blue fabric across the cutting table.
Etymology
The word was used for a compact bundle or roll of cloth, extending its older associations with a solid, elongated object. A bolt therefore names cloth in its rolled trading form rather than a particular fabric.
More examples
- Several bolts of cloth stand behind the counter.
- She orders another bolt for the curtains.
- The pattern repeats along the entire bolt.
Forms
bolt · bolts
Similar words
- roll
- A broader cylinder of flexible material without a textile-specific use.