What is "damask"

Damask \Dam"ask\, a.

1. Pertaining to, or originating at, the city of Damascus; resembling the products or manufactures of Damascus.

2. Having the color of the damask rose.

   But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud, Feed on her damask cheek.
   --Shak.

   Damask color, a deep rose-color like that of the damask rose.

   Damask plum, a small dark-colored plum, generally called damson.

   Damask rose (Bot.), a large, pink, hardy, and very fragrant variety of rose ( Rosa damascena) from Damascus. ``Damask roses have not been known in England above one hundred years.''
   --Bacon.

   Damask steel, or Damascus steel, steel of the kind originally made at Damascus, famous for its hardness, and its beautiful texture, ornamented with waving lines; especially, that which is inlaid with damaskeening; -- formerly much valued for sword blades, from its great flexibility and tenacity.

Damask \Dam"ask\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Damasked; p. pr. & vb. n. Damasking.] To decorate in a way peculiar to Damascus or attributed to Damascus; particularly:

1. with flowers and rich designs, as silk;

2. with inlaid lines of gold, etc., or with a peculiar marking or ``water,'' as metal. See Damaskeen.

   Mingled metal damasked o'er with gold.
   --Dryde?.

   On the soft, downy bank, damasked with flowers.
   --Milton.

Damask \Dam"ask\ (d[a^]m"ask), n. [From the city Damascus, L. Damascus, Gr. Damasko`s, Heb. Dammesq, Ar. Daemeshq; cf. Heb. d'meseq damask; cf. It. damasco, Sp. damasco, F. damas. Cf. Damascene, Damass['E].]

1. Damask silk; silk woven with an elaborate pattern of flowers and the like. ``A bed of ancient damask.''
   --W. Irving.

2. Linen so woven that a pattern in produced by the different directions of the thread, without contrast of color.

3. A heavy woolen or worsted stuff with a pattern woven in the same way as the linen damask; -- made for furniture covering and hangings.

4. Damask or Damascus steel; also, the peculiar markings or ``water'' of such steel.

5. A deep pink or rose color.
   --Fairfax.

late 14c., Damaske "cloth from Damascus," the Syrian city.

1. Of a grayish-pink color, like that of the damask rose. n. 1 An ornate silk fabric originating from Damascus. 2 Linen so woven that a pattern is produced by the different directions of the thread, without contrast of colour. 3 A heavy woolen or worsted stuff with a pattern woven in the same way as the linen damask; made for furniture covering and hangings. 4 Damascus steel; also, the peculiar markings or "water" of such steel. 5 A (vern: damask rose), (taxlink Rosa × damascena nothospecies noshow=1). 6 A grayish-pink color, like that of the damask rose. v

2. To decorate or weave in damascene patterns

1. adj. having a woven pattern; "damask table linens"

2. n. a table linen made from linen damask

3. a fabric of linen or cotton or silk or wool with a reversible pattern woven into it

Damask is a reversible figured fabric of silk, wool, linen, cotton, or synthetic fibres, with a pattern formed by weaving. Damasks are woven with one warp yarn and one weft yarn, usually with the pattern in warp-faced satin weave and the ground in weft-faced or sateen weave. Twill damasks include a twill-woven ground or pattern.

Damask may refer to:

• A tapestry-woven fabric, see Damask
• Damask, Iran, a village in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran
• A flower commonly known as the Damask rose or simply as "Damask", see Rosa damascena
• A fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe, see Emma Steed
• A fictional character from Star Wars named Hego Damask, alias Darth Plagueis