chiffon

views updated May 18 2018

chif·fon / shiˈfän; ˈshifˌän/ • n. a light, sheer fabric typically made of silk or nylon: [as adj.] a chiffon blouse. ∎  [as adj.] (of a cake or dessert) made with beaten egg whites to give a light consistency: chiffon cake.

chiffon

views updated May 23 2018

chiffon (pl.) fallals, finery XVIII; diaphanous silky muslin XIX. — F., f. chiffe scrap of paper, rag, of unkn. orig.