Valenciennes

[vuh-len-see-enz; French va-lahn-syen] /vəˌlɛn siˈɛnz; French va lɑ̃ˈsyɛn/
noun
1.
a city in N France, SE of Lille.
2.
Also called Valenciennes lace, Val, Val lace. Textiles.
  1. a flat bobbin lace of linen, worked in one piece with the same thread forming the ground and the motif.
  2. a cotton imitation of it.
Origin
1710-20, for def 2
British Dictionary definitions for Valenciennes

Valenciennes1

/ˌvælənsɪˈɛn/
noun
1.
a flat bobbin lace typically having scroll and floral designs and originally made of linen, now often cotton
Word Origin
named after Valenciennes², where it was originally made

Valenciennes2

/French valɑ̃sjɛn/
noun
1.
a town in N France, on the River Escaut: a coal-mining and heavy industrial centre. Pop: 41 278 (1999)
Encyclopedia Article for Valenciennes

town, Nord departement, Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, northern France, on the Escaut (Scheldt) River. The origin of the name is obscure. Some believe that it stems from one of the three Roman emperors called Valentinian. Others attribute it to a corruption of val des cygnes ("valley of the swans"), swans being featured on the civic coat of arms.

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