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noun Uncommon

Tiffany

TIH-fuh-nee
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Tiffany (noun) means a very fine, sheer silk gauze once used for veils, trimmings, and delicate dresses. Example: “The Victorian bonnet was finished with a wisp of pale blue tiffany.”

noun
1
A very fine, sheer silk gauze once used for veils, trimmings, and delicate dresses.
"Frost is another foe. Cordons might be protected by hoops covered with tiffany, Russian canvas, mats, or netting; bushes by nets, mats, etc." — E. Bartrum, The Book of Pears and Plums (1903)
"The Victorian bonnet was finished with a wisp of pale blue tiffany."

How to use Tiffany

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old-fashioned word for a gauzy, see-through silk fabric — unrelated in modern use to the jewellery brand or given name, though all three share the same distant word history.

When to use it

Rare and archaic outside of fashion history or antique-textile contexts; most people today know "Tiffany" only as a name or jewellery brand.

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Word forms

Plural
tiffanies
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The Victorian bonnet was finished with a wisp of pale blue _____.

Etymology

From Old French Tifinie/Tiphanie, ultimately from Greek theophania ("appearance of god," the root of "Epiphany") — the fabric name and the girl's name Tiffany share this same origin, since children born around the feast of Epiphany were often given the name.

Origin: Old French

Synonyms

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gauze voile

Related words

dressing netting gauze voile scrim veiling

Rhymes for Tiffany

any many zany botany litany Albany Germany company Tuscany Bethany Brittany Epiphany
See all rhymes for Tiffany →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Tiffany” mean?
The word “Tiffany” means a very fine, sheer silk gauze once used for veils, trimmings, and delicate dresses. In plain terms, an old-fashioned word for a gauzy, see-through silk fabric — unrelated in modern use to the jewellery brand or given name, though all three share the same distant word history.
How do you pronounce “Tiffany”?
“Tiffany” is pronounced TIH-fuh-nee (/ˈtɪfəni/ in IPA).
How do you use “Tiffany” in a sentence?
Here is “Tiffany” used in a sentence: “The Victorian bonnet was finished with a wisp of pale blue tiffany.”
What part of speech is “Tiffany”?
“Tiffany” is a noun.
Where does the word “Tiffany” come from?
The word “Tiffany” comes from Old French.
Is “Tiffany” a common word?
“Tiffany” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is Tiffany fabric traditionally used for?
Tiffany is a very fine, sheer silk gauze historically used for veils, trimmings, and delicate dress details. Its lightness and transparency made it popular for decorative rather than structural parts of garments.
What is the difference between tiffany and tulle?
Both are fine, sheer fabrics, but tiffany is traditionally a silk gauze while tulle is typically a netted fabric made from silk, nylon, or polyester with a distinct mesh structure. Tiffany has a smoother, woven texture compared to tulle's net-like weave.
Is tiffany the same as organza?
Tiffany and organza are similar in that both are sheer, lightweight fabrics, but organza is a crisp, plain-woven fabric that holds its shape, while tiffany is a softer, finer gauze traditionally used for veils and trimmings. Organza tends to have more body and stiffness than tiffany.

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dressing netting gauze voile scrim veiling