barmcloth

English

Etymology

From Middle English barmcloth, barmclothe, barmecloth, from Old English bearmclāþ (“apron”), analysable as barm +‎ cloth.

Noun

barmcloth (plural barmcloths)

  1. (archaic) An apron.
    • 1870, William Morris, “September: The Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon”, in The Earthly Paradise: A Poem, part III, London: F[rederick] S[tartridge] Ellis, […], →OCLC, page 80:
      His mother o'er her barm-cloth wide / Gazed forward somewhat timidly / The new-comer's bright weed to see.
    • 2019, James Meek, To Calais, In Ordinary Time:
      The knaves followed and banged the pots, and the girls held up their barmcloths filled with blossom heads, but they stinted at the bridge across Sir Guy's ditch, while Anto and Will went through the gate.

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