[f. BROAD + CLOTH. In Act 1 Rich. III., viii. an. 1482, ‘broad cloths,’ two yards within the lists, are distinguished from ‘streits,’ one yard wide within the lists.] Fine, plain-wove, dressed, double width, black cloth, used chiefly for men’s garments. (The term is now used to imply quality rather than width, which may vary considerably; the ‘double’ merely represents that the piece is creased or folded double, i.e., with its two ‘lists’ brought together; a process not adopted with cloth of less than 54 inches wide.) Also attrib.
a. 1420. Occleve, De Reg. Princ., 452. There gothe no lesse in a mannes typette Than of brode clothe a yerd.
1465. Mann. & Househ. Exp., 316. Ij. peces of blak brodeclothe, conteynenge in lengthe xlviij. yerdes.
1483. Act 1 Rich. III., viii. § 1. Any manner woollen Clothes, called broad Clothes.
1577. Harrison, England, II. v. (1877), 132. The wares that they carrie out of the realme are for the most part Brode clothes.
1632. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, V. i. A thrifty cap, composed of broad-cloth lists.
1720. Gay, Poems (1745), I. 72. Ye weavers all your shuttles throw, And bid broad-cloths and serges grow.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Cinnamon & Pearls, v. 97. You dressed in broadcloth, and I in silk, and both of us philosophizing on civilization.
fig. 1601. Bp. Barlow, Defence, 222. That is Christ in the broad-cloth, in the whole peece.
Hence Broad-clothier, a dealer in broad-cloth.
1720. Lond. Gaz., 5878/6. Richard Rider … Broad Clothier.
