damask

damask [from Damascus ], fabric of silk, wool, linen, cotton, or man-made fibers, with a pattern formed by the weaving; e.g., the ground may be in twill weave, and the contrasting design in satin. True damasks are flat and reversible, thus differing from brocades. Splendid patterns, silks, and dyes were used by the Damascus weavers, sometimes with the addition of gold or silver thread. Fine linen table damask is one of the most beautiful examples of the modern weavers' art, in both pattern and texture. Double damask has more picks, or threads, to the inch than single; compound damask has one or two warps and two fillings.

damask in various names of natural and artificial products reputed to derive from Damascus (cf. prec.); orig. attrib. uses of the name (in ME. Damaske), in some uses absol. as sb., e.g. damask (cloth) XIV; damask plum, damask rose XVI; †damask water; damask (steel) XVII; the colour of the damask rose XVI.

damask a figured, lustrous woven fabric, with a pattern visible on both sides, originally produced in Damascus.
damask rose a sweet-scented rose of an old variety (or hybrid) that is typically pink or light red in colour. The petals are very soft and velvety and are used to make attar.