jan 1, 1560 - russel

Description:

A woollen fabric, noted in 1488 and 1493 (OED), but more frequent in the sixteenth century, with reference to items of clothing such as doublets, jackets, jerkins and kirtles. 1551 <i>as much Russell as will make her a kirtill</i>, Pontefract (Th19/289); 1560 <i>my best jerkynge of russell</i>, Church Fenton (Th27/301). It was occasionally used attributively: 1543 <i>one dublett of russell worstede</i>, Otley (Th19/79) and was quite frequently in the plural: 1549 <i>a jakett of russelles</i>, Knottingley (Th19/223); 1552 <i>two kirtelles, the one of russels</i>, Womersley (Th27/33); 1558 <i>xxxix yeards of russhels ... fower hole peaces of russhells, </i>Knaresborough (SS26/126). It cannot mean ‘red’ since early examples were specifically black, green, or grey but may take its name from a Flemish town (OED).

Added to timeline:

Date: