What does tweel mean?
Tweel is an old word for twill, a fabric characterized by diagonal lines in its weave. It survives chiefly in Scots and in historical British and American English, rather than as a common modern term in either country. In its principal noun sense, it can refer either to the diagonal weave itself or to cloth made with that weave. Because twill was historically associated with durable fabrics such as denim, khaki, and woolen suiting, tweel can carry associations with sturdy, practical textiles. Modern speakers will usually encounter it in literary, historical, or dialect contexts, and “twill” is the standard term they should use in general contemporary speech. The final l in tweel also distinguishes it from “twee,” an unrelated word for something dainty, pretty, or overly affected.
nounAn archaic or Scots term for twill or a fabric made with a diagonal weave.
- Twill or a fabric constructed with a diagonal weave.
"The tailor chose a length of tweel for the jacket."
"The sleeves were cut from a dark tweel."
"A length of tweel was displayed at the textile fair."
The plural is rarely needed because the word is largely archaic or Scots, but it is formed by adding -s.
"Several bolts of tweel remained in the storeroom."
Tweel preserves the older British and Scots vocabulary of twill, the diagonal weave used in denim and many suiting fabrics.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tweel come from?
Tweel is a Scots and northern British form of “twill.” The two words share the older Middle English vocabulary associated with twilled weaving, in which a diagonal pattern is produced across the fabric. Rather than representing a separate modern formation, tweel chiefly preserves a regional or archaic variant of the established word twill.
How tweel is actually used
The word is archaic in standard British and American English and survives mainly in Scots usage. It is now encountered chiefly in historical texts, dialect studies, and specialist discussions of textiles.
Easily confused with tweel
Tweel, with a final l, denotes twill or a diagonally woven fabric, whereas twee is an adjective meaning excessively dainty or affected.