noun / verb

twill

TWILL/twɪl/

Cloth woven with parallel diagonal ribs.

Diagonal ribs run through the woven twill.

A close view of a single solid-color twill fabric swatch, with diagonal ribs visibly formed by staggered interlacing threads rather than printed stripes.

Etymology

twillOld Englishwoven with double thread

Old English twili described cloth woven with double thread and is said to partly translate a Latin expression with that meaning. The modern noun identifies cloth by its diagonal-ribbed weave.

In context

Textile with Alberto1:47

The diagonal twill is more closed, more compact compared to the twill of the denim.

GABARDINE FABRIC EXPLAINED | The Secret Behind the Diagonal Weave

More examples

Diagonal ribs distinguished the twill from plain fabric.
The weaver twilled the fabric to create a diagonal pattern.
She selected a dark twill for the trousers.

Forms

twill · twills · twilled · twilling

Similar words

denim: Denim is a particular sturdy cotton twill; twill names the broader weave or fabric.
canvas: Canvas generally has a plain weave rather than twill's diagonal ribs.