Ikat

Word of the Day for Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Ikat \ee-kaht\, noun:

1. a method of printing woven fabric by tie-dyeing the warp yarns (warp ikat), the weft yarns (weft ikat), or both (double ikat) before weaving.
2. a fabric made by this method.

I saw a collection of monumental tombs and watched a group of village ikat weavers using plants like indigo leaf to dye and make the fabric I'd always admired.
-- Carol Field, Mangoes and Quince, 2008

"Ikat," said Glenda. "From Bali. The most romantic place on the planet." Counting out the money, Simone discovered that she had only one more dollar than the scarf cost, with tax.
-- Francine Prose, Primitive People, 1992

Ikat is derived from the Malay word meaning "to tie" because of the method of dyeing. It entered English in the 1930s.

 

Thanks to: www.dictionary.com