What does samite mean?
Samite denotes a luxurious patterned silk that was especially important in medieval Europe. Unlike plain silk or the smooth-surfaced fabric now called satin, samite was valued for designs woven into its structure, sometimes with gold or silver threads. It appeared in ceremonial, ecclesiastical, and royal clothing and could also be used for furnishings and other prestigious objects. In modern English, the word is rare and sounds literary or historical, so it is most often encountered in descriptions of medieval textiles, manuscripts, reliquaries, and ceremonial dress. Its modern use therefore carries a strong sense of richness, antiquity, and display. Samite belongs to the family of rich figured fabrics, including brocade and damask, although it is more specifically associated with silk and with the historic practice of weaving metallic ornament into the cloth.
nounA rich, heavy silk fabric woven with elaborate patterns, often using gold or silver threads. Samite was especially valued in medieval Europe for ceremonial and ecclesiastical garments.
- A richly patterned silk or similar textile, especially one interwoven with gold, silver, or other costly threads.
"The queen entered the cathedral wearing a cloak of crimson samite richly woven with gold thread."
"A fragment of samite survives from the thirteenth century."
"The manuscript describes the saint's vestments as being made of white samite."
The plural is rarely needed because samite is uncommon in modern English, though it is grammatically regular.
"The museum displays samites imported from the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages."
Samite was the medieval silk of spectacle: a heavy fabric whose woven designs made royal and ecclesiastical robes shimmer with gold or silver.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does samite come from?
Samite entered English through Old French, from Medieval Latin samitum, a term derived from Greek samiton, “Samian cloth.” The ultimate source was Samos, the Greek island renowned in antiquity for its silk. The word passed into several European languages in cognate forms, including French samite and Italian samite, and has also been recorded in English as samit and samise.
How samite is actually used
Samite is uncommon in modern English and is now chiefly encountered in historical, literary, religious, and textile-history contexts. It should not be used as a general term for any finely woven fabric.
Easily confused with samite
Samite is patterned and often contains metallic threads, whereas satin is characterized by a smooth, glossy surface.