zephyrinehttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zephyrine_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezephyrine, adj. & n.
Revised 2018

zephyrineadjective & noun

Now historical and rare.
  1. adjective
    1. 1819–
      Of a garment: made of zephyrine (sense B).
      1. 1819
        The much admired Zephyrine Turbans.
        Morning Chronicle 4 March 1/3 (advertisement)
      2. 1833
        Hon. Miss Kenyon.—White satin, covered with a white zephyrine dress, embroidered with violet and gold.
        Ladies' Penny Gazette 2 March 148/1
      3. 1873
        A span new tea-colored zephyrine polonaise.
        A. D. Whitney, Other Girls iii. 19
      4. 1905
        An attractive line in zephyrine suitings is offered by Ostrander & Co.
        Textile World Rec. January 73/1
      5. 2011
        She had donned her favorite olive-green zephyrine pelisse with gold rosettes adorning her hips.
        A. Hawkins, After Dark with Scoundrel viii. 76
  2. noun
    1. 1820–
      A thin, light dress fabric, typically made of silk; a garment made of this.
      1. 1820
        The new silk called zephyrine is also a good deal used in trimmings; its light and soft texture renders it very well adapted for that purpose.
        Repository of Arts July 53/2
      2. 1873
        Her zephyrine, with its silky shine.
        A. D. Whitney, Other Girls iii. 20
      3. 1889
        Chambray, lawn, batiste, seersucker, zephyrine and all kinds of wash goods may be satisfactorily made up by this pattern.
        Delineator June 420/1
      4. 1994
        Serena's own dress of pale blue zephyrine..suddenly seemed very tame.
        S. Andrew, Serena vii. 113

Originally published as part of the entry for zephyr, n.

zephyrine, adj. & n. was revised in June 2018.

zephyrine, adj. & n. was last modified in July 2023.