peau de soie

English

Alternative forms

• peau-de-soie

Etymology

From French peau de soie (“skin of silk”), perhaps originally a trademark.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pəʊdəˈswɑː/

Noun

peau de soie (uncountable)

1. A heavy closely-woven silk fabric, faced with satin on both sides.
   • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage, published 2007, page 611:

     She was in pale violet peau de soie, and a hat so beguiling that Kit was only momentarily surprised to find himself with an erection.