What does cameline mean?
Cameline is a historical term for a fine cloth traditionally woven from camel hair, often blended with wool, and prized for its softness and warmth. The fabric's distinctive yellowish-brown shade became so closely identified with the material that 'cameline' also came to denote that particular tan color itself. The word derives ultimately from 'camel', via French textile terminology, reflecting the animal whose fleece supplied the original yarn. Today cameline appears chiefly in historical and scholarly contexts — costume histories, inventories of old wardrobes, and period literature — rather than everyday conversation. Its double life as both a fabric and a color makes it a useful word for readers interested in the history of textiles and fashion, where many color names originated in the materials that displayed them.
A fine cloth made from camel hair (often blended with wool), characteristically yellowish-brown in color.
"He purchased several yards of cameline for a new winter robe."
Chiefly historical; found in older texts and specialist writing on textiles.
The yellowish-brown color typical of cameline cloth.
"The walls were painted a muted cameline that recalled old woolen garments."
Used when referring to multiple pieces or varieties of the fabric.
"The merchant's stock included camelines of several weights and shades."
Before synthetic dyes took over, 'cameline' named not just a camel-hair cloth but the exact shade of dusty tan that cloth gave its name to.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cameline
Cameline comes from the Latin 'camelinus', formed from 'camelus' (camel), passing through Old French into English as a name for cloth made of camel hair. It is thus directly cognate with 'camel' itself and related to 'camlet', another camel-hair fabric term borrowed from the same linguistic family. The word has been used in English since at least the medieval period in reference to textiles, later extending to the color associated with the cloth.
How cameline is actually used
Cameline is an archaic or historical term, encountered mainly in texts on costume, textiles, and older literature; it is rarely used in contemporary speech except by specialists.
Easily confused with cameline
Carmine is a deep red pigment or color, whereas cameline is a yellowish-brown fabric and its associated color.