What does brocade mean?
Brocade is a rich, ornate fabric characterized by raised patterns woven directly into the cloth, traditionally using silk combined with gold or silver thread. Originating in ancient China and flourishing through Byzantine, Persian, and Italian weaving traditions, brocade became synonymous with wealth, power, and ceremonial splendor — adorning royal robes, ecclesiastical vestments, and aristocratic furnishings for centuries. The word entered English in the sixteenth century from Spanish and Portuguese 'brocado', ultimately tracing back to Latin 'brocca', meaning a small pointed tool used in weaving. Today brocade appears most often in descriptions of formalwear, upholstery, and interior design, where it signals luxury and tradition. Though modern machine-made brocades are widely available, the term retains its association with opulence, making it a useful word for writers describing elegance, heritage, or extravagance in both literal textile contexts and figurative ones.
A rich fabric, typically of silk, woven with a raised decorative pattern, often incorporating gold or silver thread.
"Cushions covered in emerald brocade lined the window seat."
Most commonly encountered sense today.
To weave or decorate (fabric) with a brocade pattern. Now rare and chiefly historical.
"The weavers brocaded the altar cloth with scenes from scripture."
This verb form has largely fallen out of use; 'brocaded' survives more commonly as an adjective.
The plural typically refers to multiple types, samples, or pieces of brocade fabric rather than a countable quantity of a single material.
"The merchant displayed silks and brocades from across the Silk Road."
Brocade was once so prized that Renaissance sumptuary laws restricted who was allowed to wear it — wearing it without permission could get you fined.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of brocade
The English word 'brocade' derives from the Spanish 'brocado' and Portuguese 'brocado', meaning embroidered or figured cloth, which themselves came from the Italian 'broccato'. The ultimate root is the Latin 'brocca', referring to a small pointed implement, likely alluding to the piercing action of the needle or shuttle in creating the raised designs. The term entered English usage during the sixteenth century as European trade with Italy and the Iberian Peninsula brought luxurious silks to northern markets.
Related word forms
How brocade is actually used
Brocade is primarily a noun describing luxury textiles and carries connotations of opulence, ceremony, and historical grandeur. As a verb ('to brocade'), it is now rare and largely historical. The adjective form 'brocaded' is more common than the verb.
Easily confused with brocade
Damask is a reversible figured fabric of the same weave family but typically flatter in texture and usually made from linen, cotton, or silk without metallic threads, whereas brocade is heavier with raised patterns often incorporating metallic threads.
Jacquard refers to any fabric woven on a Jacquard loom (a mechanism invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard), while brocade specifically denotes an ornate, often metallic-thread fabric; many brocades are made on Jacquard looms but not all Jacquards are brocade.