/bom'beuh zeen", bom"beuh zeen'/ , n.
a twill fabric constructed of a silk or rayon warp and worsted filling, often dyed black for mourning wear.
Also, bombasine, bombazeen .
[ 1545-55; earlier bombasin bombasinum, var. of BOMBYCINUM, n. use of neut. of L bombycinus silken bombýkinos, equiv. to bombyk-, s. of bómbyx silkworm + -inos -INE 1 ]