DELAINE

(French: of wool), any high-grade woolen or worsted fabric made of fine combing wool. Delaine was originally a high-quality women's wear dress material. The word delaine is still applied to a staple all-wool fabric made in plain weave and of compact structure. Delaine sheep, a Merino type, are raised in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Poland, and to a lesser extent in France.