What does armure mean?
Armure is a noun denoting a richly textured fabric — typically silk or wool — woven so that its surface shows a small pebbled or ribbed pattern reminiscent of the scales or plates of armor. The name reflects its origin: it derives from the French word for armor, via Latin, and the cloth's hammered-looking finish evokes metalwork. In fashion and tailoring, armure is prized for formal garments such as jackets, dresses, and vestments because the weave holds its shape and resists creasing while catching the light subtly. A second, narrower sense appears in heraldry, where armure refers to the depiction of armor among a coat of arms' bearings. The word remains uncommon outside specialist circles, lending any description that uses it an air of connoisseurship; writers on costume history and haute couture favor it precisely because it names both a material and an aesthetic idea in a single term.
A heavy silk or woolen fabric with a pebbled or ribbed surface, used for tailored and formal garments.
"He had his evening jacket cut from a deep navy armure."
Chiefly used in textile and fashion contexts.
In heraldry, the representation or bearing of armor on a coat of arms.
"The family crest displayed its armure prominently above the shield."
Restricted to heraldic usage.
The plural is rare, appearing mostly in trade or historical texts describing multiple fabrics.
"The archive holds several nineteenth-century armures in varying weights."
The same Latin root that gave us 'armor' also named a luxurious pebbled silk — armure is literally armor you can wear to dinner.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of armure
Armure comes from the French word for armor, which itself descends from the Latin armatura, meaning equipment or defensive gear. The fabric took its name from the resemblance of its pebbled, ribbed weave to the plates and scales of armor. Related English words sharing this Latin root include armor, armory, and armament.
How armure is actually used
Armure is a specialist term encountered mainly in textiles, fashion, and heraldry; it is rare in everyday speech and carries a refined, somewhat old-fashioned connotation.
Easily confused with armure
Armor is protective body covering worn in combat, while armure is primarily a textured fabric (or a heraldic representation of armor).