selvage

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the narrow finished edge of woven fabric that prevents it from fraying

   The tailor aligned the pattern with the selvage before cutting the cloth.

2. 2
   noun

   a border, marginal strip, or naturally formed edge resembling the edge of woven cloth

   Reeds formed a green selvage around the pond.

From early modern Dutch selfegghe, literally 'self-edge,' equivalent to self and edge. The edge is self-finished because the weft threads turn back around the outer warp threads. Selvedge is a common variant spelling; figurative use extends the textile edge to natural borders.

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