wadmal

English

Etymology

From Middle English wadmal, wadmol, from Old Norse váðmál (“woolen stuff”), from váð (“cloth”) + mál (“measure”). Cognate to Danish vadmel, Icelandic vaðmál. Compare wad (“a small mass”) and woodmeil.

Noun

wadmal (countable and uncountable, plural wadmals)

1. Thick coarse heavily napped wool mostly used in winter clothing for the poor.

Alternative forms

• wadmaal, wadmeal, wadmel, wadmell, wadmol, wadmoll

Related terms

• wad
• weed (“garment”)