noun

muslin

MUHZ-lihn

Muslin (noun) means a lightweight, plain-woven cotton fabric. Example: “She wrapped the cheese in muslin before hanging it to dry.”

noun

A lightweight, plain-woven cotton fabric.

"She wrapped the cheese in muslin before hanging it to dry."

"The baby was swaddled in a soft muslin blanket."

A rough, inexpensive test version of a dress pattern made up before cutting the real fabric.

"The designer made a muslin first to check the fit before using the expensive silk."

How to use muslin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA thin, plain cotton cloth used for everything from baby wraps to dressmaking test pieces.

Common pairings

muslin cloth muslin square wrapped in muslin

Word forms

muslins plural

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She wrapped the cheese in _____ before hanging it to dry.

Etymology

From French mousseline, from Italian mussolina, named after Mosul, the Iraqi city where the fabric was originally associated with trade.

Origin: French

Frequently asked questions

What does “muslin” mean?

The word “muslin” means a lightweight, plain-woven cotton fabric. In plain terms, a thin, plain cotton cloth used for everything from baby wraps to dressmaking test pieces.

How do you pronounce “muslin”?

“Muslin” is pronounced MUHZ-lihn (/ˈmʌz.lɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “muslin” in a sentence?

Here is “muslin” used in a sentence: “She wrapped the cheese in muslin before hanging it to dry.”

What part of speech is “muslin”?

“Muslin” is a noun.

Where does the word “muslin” come from?

The word “muslin” comes from French. From French mousseline, from Italian mussolina, named after Mosul, the Iraqi city where the fabric was originally associated with trade.

How many meanings does “muslin” have?

“Muslin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a lightweight, plain-woven cotton fabric.