East Ind. Also taut. [Hindi ţāţ a strip of very thick hemp-canvas, about 10 inches wide, of which several are sewn together to make a mat or screen.] Coarse canvas made from various fibers, esp. jute, and used as sacking.
1820. Trans. Lit. Soc. Bombay, III. 244 (Y.). Made into coarse cloth taut, by the Brinjaries and people who use pack bullocks, for making bags (gonies) for holding grain, &c.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Tat, a name in India for cloth made from the fibre of the Corchorus olitorius.
Hence 1864 in Webster; and in later Dicts.
