Obs. Also 5 tarsse. [a. OF. tarse (1345 in Godef.); in med.L. pannus Tarsicus; formerly held to be the same word as Tarse, Tarsus in Cilicia (either because fabricated at or imported by way of Tarsus); but probably referring to Tarsia or Tharsia, described in Maundeville (xxiv., Roxb. xxvii.) as ‘the kingdom of Tarse,’ upon which the land of Cathay ‘marcheth toward the west,’ app. Turkestan; hence prob. the same as TARTAR sb.3, and TARTARIN1 2, q.v.] A rich and costly stuff of Oriental origin, used in the West in the 14th and 15th c. Also cloth of Tars.
[1295. Visitatio Thesaur. S. Pauli Londin. (Du Cange). Casula de panno Tarsico, Indici coloris.]
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 571. Dubbed in a dublet of a dere tars.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 163. As gladde of a goune of a graye russet As of a tunicle of tarse or of trye scarlet.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 3190. In toges of tarsse fulle richelye attyrde.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), vi. 20. Cledd in clathe of gold or tars, or in chamelet.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1515. [He] arais all þe cite, Braidis ouire with bawdkyns all þe brade stretis, With tars & with tafeta þar he trede sulde. Ibid., 4673. Doubeletis of damaske & sum of dere tars.
[1834. Planché, Brit. Costume, 105. The rich stuff called ‘cloth of tars’ is mentioned in this reign [Edw. I.]. It was latinized tarsicus and tartarinus.
1880. Birdwood, Indian Arts, II. 74. Cloth of Tars is from Tarsus, or perhaps from Tabriz.]
