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cambric

.
Searchable Lemmata: cameraca (L), cambric (ME), caprig (W), cambrick (OScots), camrick (OScots), cambreche (OScots), cambric (MdE).
Alternate Forms: cameraka, cameryk, camerylk, camerylkis, kapric.

    Definitions and Defining Citations:

1(n.) Textile; fine fabric, probably linen; also used attributively. In modern uses, described as a fine white linen, originally made in or associated with Cambrai in Flanders.(ante 1400 still in current use)
1. Unum mantellum ... furroto cum puyred ... Duae tuaillae de cambric [MED Doc.in Dugdale Monasticon 6 (1366) 1385]
2. [91] ... de ... j coopertorio de rubeo worsted embroudato cum uno castro albo ... j coster de rubeo worsted embroudato cum albis litteris ... [92] ... ij mantellis de frisio Hibernico ... [98] ... j remanent de cameraka blodia et alba Accounts. (Also DMLBS LTR Ac Wardr.). The DMLBS also offers MonA VI 1366a (1385): 'due tuaille de cambric' [DMLBS Arch. (LXX 91-98) 1415]
3. pan el y gwallt hir velyn / ai fric val y kapric gwyn Poetic. [GPC Pen (76) circa 1450]
4. bydd vn frig ar caprig gwyn [GPC RWM (i 625) circa 1450]
5. A roll off camerylkis clath Accounts. [DOST HALYB. (172) 1498]
6. xxiij elles of cameryk for vj shirtes for the King Accounts. [OED Draper's Dict. (Beck) (Privy Purse Exp. Hen. VIII 29 Oct.) 1530]
L, ME, MdE, OScots, W; Primarily Accounts; Toponym.
Sex: N/A    Use: n/a    Status: n/a    Rank: n/a    Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
References: Monnas, L. (1993)

    Etymological Evidence:

Speculative, Kamerijk, the Flemish name of Cambrai (Latin Camaracum), in the far north of modern-day France. Forms with -mbr- show dissimilation of the bilabial nasal before -r. The Latin form cameraca, cameraka (etc.) most probably represents this fabric, but may by influenced by or be derived from the fabric camaca (q.v.), of entirely different etymology. Related forms such as camerage, cammarage, cammeraige, etc. appear from the middle decades of the sixteenth century, 'with unexplained change of ending' (s.v. 'camerage', DOST; also cf. 'cambric, n.', OED, 2nd ed., 1989; online version June 2011. <http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/26658>; accessed 15 July 2011). Welsh caprig is attested in the 15th century, but forms camrig and cambrig are not attested until the 16th-17th cents. (s.v. 'cambrig, cambrig'; 'caprig'; GPC).
WF: Borrowed into the British Isles
Etym Cog: camrig (W).
References:
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