undercloth

English

Etymology

From under- +‎ cloth.

Noun

undercloth (countable and uncountable, plural undercloths)

1. A tablecloth laid directly on the table, over which are placed other coverings such as an additional tablecloth that allows the undercloth to show through, or an additional tablecloth that completely covers the undercloth when it is used for stability or noise muffling, or simple mats that provide additional protection.
   • 1916, Sister Loretto Basil Duff, A Course in Household Arts: Part I, page 27:

     Cover the table with an undercloth of felting or of canton flannel, or with a clean cotton blanket, to protect the table, to lessen noise, and to improve the appearance of the cloth. Over this undercloth spread the tablecloth smoothly and evenly, the middle fold upward, exactly in the middle and lengthwise with the table.

   • 1996, Peter Dias, “5. Restaurant Equipment”, in The Steward, Orient Longman, →ISBN, “2. Selection of Restaurant Equipment”, “4. Linen”, pages 79–80:

     Undercloth or table cloth Most restaurants now use a base cloth which covers the table. This is overlayed by a smaller table cloth called ‘overcloth’, ‘slip cloth’, or ‘napperons’. The overcloth is laid diagonally over the undercloth, and they are usually of contrasting colours. / […] / Using an undercloth has the following advantages. / […] / 3. The undercloth also performs the function of the baize cloth, which has been described earlier.

   • 1998, Phyllis Bennett Oates, The Story of Western Furniture, page 41:

     Over this would be laid two white cloths revealing the edge of the undercloth. Since the bread trenchers used in the early Middle Ages were absorbent, two white cloths were necessary to protect the undercloth; they also tended to serve as napkins, for fingers were used freely for eating.

   • 2022, Elizabeth Hale Gilman, The Library of Work and Play: Housekeeping:

     Where very hot dishes are to be placed the table should have added to the usual protection of an undercloth the further protection of asbestos or basketwork mats.

2. (more generally) A protective cloth that goes underneath something.
   • 1825, Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society - Volume 3, page 432:

     Fire apparatus used for confining the smoke, and of an undercloth upon which the insects are made to fall

   • 1841 January, “Specification of a Patent granted to Robert Hampson of Mayfield Printworks, in Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Calico Printer, for an Improved Method of Block-Printing on Woven Fabrics of Cotton, Linen, Silk, or Woollen, or of any two or more of them intermexed, with Improved Machinery, Apparatus, and Implements for that purpose.”, in Repertory of patent inventions, number 85, page 2:

     The rollers, A, and S, are both prevented from revolving freely by means of a break or check line, and the counter-weights, b, b, so that the fabric and undercloth are held in a state of moderate tension, as they are drawn forward over the printing-table, B.

   • 1907, Percy Dearmer, “Chapter II. The Holy Table and its Furniture”, in The Parson’s Handbook , 6th edition, Henry Frowde; London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, New York and Toronto, pages 92–93:

     The two undercloths should be exactly the size of the top of the altar, and quite plain. One of them may, as we have seen, be tacked on to the frontlet. It is an ancient custom that no other material but linen shall cover the top of the altar. All the linen cloths may be of diaper, and undercloths especially should be neither thin nor smooth.

   • 1947 May, “Stain-removing sticks”, in Popular Mechanics, volume 87, number 5, page 113:

     First, the fabric is laid on a clean undercloth and sponged. The first, or acidic, stick is daubed on until no more stain appears on the undercloth.

   • 1976, Ruth Reetz, The Flat Method of Sewing for Synthetic Suedes, Knits and Wovens Too, page 46:

     When sewing a fine fabric or a synthetic leather use a fashion fabric undercloth, nap side up, on ironing board, seam board or pressing ham to preserve texture and nap of fashion fabric when the right side of the fabric is pressed.

   • 2011, Bishop Peter J. Elliott, Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite:

     An undercloth may be useful. A plastic or waxed undercloth is necessary on a recently dedicated altar where much Chrism has been used.

3. A cloth that is placed beneath a saddle.
   • 2009, Kate Mosse, Labyrinth:

     Amiel checked the mare's hooves and shoes, to be sure she was fit to ride, then lifted down an undercloth and, at Alaïs' request, a riding rather than hunting saddle, then a bridle.

   • 2013, David Karunanithy, The Macedonian War Machine, 359–281 BC, page iii:

     It can be described as a square overcloth on top of a larger undercloth showing a rear dagged pattern.

   • 2015, James Bailey, Tatyana Ivanova, “Ilya Muromets and Kalin Tsar”, in An Anthology of Russian Folk Epics:

     He laid a saddle cloth on the steed, On the saddle cloth he laid a felt blanket, He put on a silken saddle cloth, On the saddle cloth he added an undercloth, On the undercloth he put a Circassian saddle, But the Circassian saddle didn't hold

4. A cloth on which a body rests as bedding.
   • 1880 February, James Hall, “A Chesshire Lady's Inventory in 1611”, in John Parsons Earwaker, editor, Local Gleanings: An Archaeological and Historical Magazine, number 8, page 297:

     It. a Joyned beddsteed, a fether beed, a Matteres, an undercloth, ij bolsters, ij pillowes, a coverlett and ij olde Curteynes

   • 2019, Mary Kingsley, Travels in West Africa:

     On the platform, is placed the bedding belonging to the deceased, the undercloth, counterpane, etc., and at the head are laid the pillows, bolster-shaped and stuffed with cotton-tree fluff, or shredded palm-leaves, and covered with some gaily-coloured cotton cloth.

   • 2020, Judith Karen Fenley, Oberon Zell, Death Rights and Rites: A Practical Guide to a Meaningful Death:

     That shirt over a graystriped turtleneck, jeans, and a gray scarf was her perfect outfit as she was lying-in-grace on a simple off-white raw silk undercloth with a red and gold pillow cover beneath her head.

5. The lower of two cloths that together perform some function.
   • 1931, Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (Great Britain), Bulletin - Issues 316-327, page 2:

     New canvas is used first as undercloths, and these as required are made to replace discarded overcloths.

   • 1959, British Chemical Engineering, page 170:

     In many instances the annual cost of top cloths (jute is normally used for the undercloth) has been cut by half .

   • 1974, Great Britain. Water Pollution Research Board, Water Pollution Research, page 221:

     Filter cloth maintenance: there is, in fact, a cloth and an undercloth, the former having the qualities necessary for detaching the cakes and the latter ensuring filtrate quality. The undercloth is changed every year ( 650 cycles ) and the cloth proper every 6 months ( 325 cycles ) .

6. A cloth that is used as a base surface for some type of work, including cases where it is incorporated into the work.
   • 1989, William Reed, Shodo: The Art of Coordinating Mind, Body and Brush, page 192:

     Felt undercloth is available which is ruled and sectioned, to help you keep your characters in straight columns.

   • 2023, Sarah Campbell, Hand-painted Textiles, page 101:

     I also paint directly onto silk that has been stretched onto an undercloth or paper surface, not on a frame.

   • 1998, Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, page 51:

     That of the King of Nanyue (died 122 BC) was composed of 2,291 plaques, some of which were glued onto the linen or hemp undercloth with red silk ribbon tied in criss-cross fashion across the jade plaques, a cheaper method than sewing the plaques together.

   • 2012, Alison Goodman, The Necklace of the Gods, page 165:

     Instead, delicately cut out shapes had been sewn onto an undercloth, with fine embroidery worked over them.

7. A fabric lining, especially one that adheres to the cloth that shows.
   • 1973, Measurement of Flammability and Burn Potential of Fabrics: Summary Report, December 1, 1971-January 31, 1973, pages 204, 208:

     Table 5.10 45° Up Burning of Wool and Pure Synthetics as Composites with Fabric #5 as undercloth,1/2" (100% Cotton, T-Shirt) 1/2 inch spacing (65% Relative Humidity at 70°F) […] Table 5.11 45° Down Burning of Synthetics as Composites, with Fabric #5 (100% Cotton, T-Shirt) as Undercloth

   • 1991, Textile Dyer & Printer - Volume 24, page 31:

     In order to prevent this, following measures are to be considered: ( i ) To make the grey cloth or undercloth layer somewhat thicker. ( ii ) Use such fibre as back grey that absorbs dye better.

8. A type of fabric intended to be used as an undercloth.
   • 1924, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Truth in Fabrics and Merchandise Mishandling Bill:

     He either buys an undercloth, light merino, or ordinary suiting, with three-eighths or quarter blood.

   • 1937, Mohanlal Lalloobhai Dantwala, Chandulal Nagindas Vakil, Marketing of Raw Cotton in India, page 57:

     But these undercloth bids do not remain secret for long.

   • 1956, Keizō Seki, The Cotton Industry of Japan, page 190:

     Textiles: Paper mill canvas, paper mill cloth, water compressor cloth, rayon filter cloth, soy bean protein filter cloth, adhesive filter cloth, undercloth and guiding cloth, duck for crimped carpetting, carpetting, mackintosh, […]

9. Any of various undergarments made from a rectangular piece of cloth.
   • 2003, Phillip Zarrilli, Kathakali Dance-Drama: Where Gods and Demons Come to Play:

     Assistants help the actors dress and wrap the yards of starched undercloth which give many of the characters their bulbous shape.

   • 2017, Joy Lidu Yi, Yungang: Art, History, Archaeology, Liturgy:

     They consisted of Antarvasaka 安陀會, Uttarasanga 鬰多羅僧 and Samghati 僧伽梨, namely an undercloth, inner robe, and outer robe.

   1. A cloth used to cover the genitals.
      • 1957, Karl V. Eiker, Star of Macedon, page 74:

        I found myself in a dripping, water-soaked world, naked save for the undercloth about my loins, unarmed save for Cylon's knife, which remained tangled in that undercloth.

      • 2000, Nico Kofi Adiku, Azasu: Son of the Hunter, page 46:

        She pulled the undercloth below her waist and threatened to hit any man who approached her. This, of course, was taboo: any man hit by a woman's undercloth was supposed to become impotent.

      • 2008, John Speed, Tiger Claws: A Novel of India, page 128:

        But the bloody shirt seems to make things worse: he ends up wrapping both shirt and undercloth into his privates.

      • 2010, Brenda Reid, The House of Dust and Dreams:

        He seemed to need no other comfort but my breast when he was hungry and, from time to time, a clean undercloth.

      • 2023, Kyra Halland, Mage of Storm and Sea:

        The watchman pulled up Esavas's undercloth and trousers, so at least he was decent again, then collected the rest of the samples he had taken and left the cell, using one elbow to push the door closed behind him.

   2. A cloth used to bind the breasts.
      • 2006, Sarah Nuttall, African and Diaspora Aesthetics, page 172:

        Tshidi's doll stands on the window sill, heavy and solid. If I take off her blanket, I will find an undercloth. If I take off this undercloth, I will find breasts. If I take off these breasts, I will find arms. If I take off these arms, I will find holes.

      • 2020, Edgar Thurston, Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume I of VII:

        The women wear a white bodycloth, a white undercloth tied round the chest, tightly wrapped square across the breasts, and reaching to the knees, and a white cloth worn like a cap on the head.

   3. A cloth worn beneath a robe or other garment and that peeks out.
      • 1967, Towards a History of Sukhodaya Art, pages 23, 54:

        A little of the undercloth (antaravāsaka) is seen hanging down below the robe near the ankles. In addition, the transparency of the robe reveals the top of the undercloth, turned down at the waist and held in place by a broad cloth belt, while the two ends of the undercloth, folded together into a vertical panel, hang down between the legs; and the combination of belt and frontal panel makes a T-shaped or Y-shaped pattern. […] This statue has another very unusual feature: the bottom hem of the robe hangs farther down than the undercloth. For the rest, the dress follows the usual rules, and the details of shoulder-flap and undercloth are rendered with elegance.

      • 1976, Theodore Robert Bowie, Alexander B. Griswold, The Sculpture of Thailand:

        When the monk is standing up, the only visible part of his undercloth is the small section that hangs below the bottom of the robe.

      • 1984, Studia Orientalia - Volumes 56-57:

        The basic dress consists of two pieces only, an undercloth and an upper garment; the third is a duplicate of the second to be worn for warmth or ceremony.

      • 2017, DianaBullen Presciutti, Visual Cultures of Foundling Care in Renaissance Italy:

        In both cases the infant, wrapped in a cocoon of white swaddling bands over a red undercloth, is juxtaposed with a competing segno.

Coordinate terms

• overcloth

Related terms

• underclothes