Dimity was a collective term for figured cloths of harness loom decorated with designs and patterns. It was a strong cotton cloth with various stripes and illustrations. It was only bleached or washed after loom less often dyed after looming, unlike fustian, usually dyed. It was a lightweight, sheer cotton fabric, used historically, having at least two

warp Warp, warped or warping may refer to: Arts and entertainment Books and comics * WaRP Graphics, an alternative comics publisher * ''Warp'' (First Comics), comic book series published by First Comics based on the play ''Warp!'' * Warp (comics), a ...

threads thrown into relief to form fine cords. It was a cloth commonly employed for bed upholstery and curtains, and usually white, though sometimes a pattern was printed on it in colors. It was stout in texture, and woven in raised patterns. Originally dimity was made of silk or wool, but since the 18th century it has been woven almost exclusively of cotton.

Types

Diaper A diaper /ˈdaɪpə(r)/ (American and Canadian English) or a nappy ( Australian English, British English, and Hiberno-English) is a type of underwear that allows the wearer to urinate or defecate Defecation (or defaecation) follows dig ...

was another kind of Dimity made of linen and sometimes cotton as well. It was a twill weave structure with diamond patterns. A

palampore A palampore or (Palempore) is a type of hand-painted and mordant- dyed bed cover that was made in India for the export market during the eighteenth century and very early nineteenth century. Only the wealthiest classes could afford to buy pa ...

is a dimity made in India and used for bed coverings.

Name

Dimity is also a girls' name, which, while still uncommon, is most popular in Australia.

Article of clothing

A dimity was a bit of draping worn by performers of the

Poses Plastiques A (; often shortened to ; plural: ), French language, French for "living picture", is a static scene containing one or more actors or models. They are stationary and silent, usually in costume, carefully posed, with props and/or scenery, and ...

, which was an early form of strip tease. Performers wore flesh colored silk body stockings and a dimity to give the illusion of modesty.

Theatrical references

* In the Finale of Act I of '' The Pirates of Penzance'', the Pirates sing, "Pray observe the magnanimity we display to lace and dimity". * At the conclusion of ''The Insect Play'', by brothers

Karel Karel may refer to: People * Karel (given name) * Karel (surname) * Charles Karel Bouley, talk radio personality known on air as Karel * Christiaan Karel Appel, Dutch painter Business * Karel Electronics, a Turkish electronics manufacturer * Gr ...

and Josef Čapek and translated by Paul Selver, a group of school children sing: "As I went down to Shrewsbury Town, / I saw my love in a dimity gown: / And all so gay I gave it away, / I gave it away—my silver crown."

References

Woven fabrics {{textile-stub