Definition of corduroy

The word "corduroy" comes from the French phrase "corde du roi" which literally translates to "king's rope." The term originally referred to a type of road surfacing technique used in France during the 18th century. To construct these roads, parallel ridges of wooden planks were laid side by side and compacted with gravel or dirt. The resulting surface resembled the fabric's characteristic raised ridges and valleys, which led to its nickname "cord du roi" or "king's rope." The French term made its way into English during the 1820s when the French corduroy roads were being imitated in England for use in clothing. The English shortened the phrase and transformed it into "corduroy," specifically referring to the textile made by weaving the fabric with alternating wide and narrow vertical and horizontal ridges.