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

fustian Synonyms

fustian

n.

bombast, ranting, pomposity; see euphuism, wordiness.

fustian Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • weaver: It was used as the headquarters of the fustian weavers during their strike in 1906-7.
  • jacket: O'Connor appealed to the ' fustian jackets ' of the north - factory workers rather than artisans.
  • cutting: Other related manufacturing trades were button making and fustian cutting, which ceased in the 1930s.
fustian Quotes

And he, whose fustian's so sublimely bad, It is not poetry, but prose run mad.

—Pope, Alexander

Browse dictionary entries near fustian

  1. ‹ fussy
  2. ‹ fussbudget
  3. ‹ fuss
  4. ‹ fusionism
  5. ‹ fusion splice
  6. ‹ fusion bomb
  7. ‹ fusion
  8. ‹ fusilli
  9. ‹ fusillade
  10. ‹ fusilier
  1. fustic ›
  2. fustigate ›
  3. fusty ›
  4. fut ›
  5. futhark ›
  6. futile ›
  7. futility ›
  8. futon ›
  9. futtock ›
  10. futtock plate ›