scrim en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /skɹɪm/
Etymology
Attested since the end of the 18th century. Origin unknown. In one of the earliest mentions, "The Statistical Account of Scotland", 1793, by John Sinclair, page 593, we read in a paragraph devoted to weavers: "Besides these, they are now much employed in working a thin kind of coarse linen called Silesias, vulgarly Scrims, whereof each piece is 27 or 30 inches broad".
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) A kind of light cotton or linen fabric, often woven in openwork patterns, used for curtains, etc,.
- (countable, uncountable) A large military scarf, usually camouflage coloured and used for concealment when not used as a scarf.
- (countable, uncountable) A woven, nonwoven or knitted fabric composed of continuous strands of material used for reinforcing or strengthening membranes.
-
(countable, uncountable) A theater drop that appears opaque when a scene in front is lighted and transparent or translucent when a scene in back is lighted.
Mummified mannequins dangling above the set, illuminated from within, were a heavy-handed touch, but the designer George Tsypin’s translucent scrims and painted drops beautifully conveyed the passage of sun-blasted days and bone-chilling nights on the edge of civilization.
2007 January 22, Steve Smith, “In Austin, Echoes of a Distant War in an Opera’s American Premiere”, in New York Times:
- (countable, uncountable) A sheet of gauze etc. used to reduce the intensity of light.
- (countable, uncountable) Thin canvas glued on the inside of panels to prevent shrinking, checking, etc.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| scrims | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (5)
cs řídké plátno (light cotton or linen fabric) · bg завеса (theater drop) · bg мрежа (fabric) · de Gaze (light cotton or linen fabric) · cmn 紗幕 /纱幕 (theater drop)