fustian Hear it!

fustian definition

fus·tian (fus′c̸hən, fust′yən)

noun

  1. Historical a coarse cloth of cotton and linen
  2. a thick cotton cloth with a short nap, as corduroy, velveteen, etc.
  3. pompous, pretentious talk or writing; bombast; rant

Etymology: ME < OFr fustaigne < ML fustaneum (< L fustis, wooden stick) used as transl. of Gr xylinon < xylinos, wooden (in LXX, cotton)

adjective

  1. made of fustian
  2. pompous and pretentious

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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