chenille

[shuh-neel] /ʃəˈnil/
noun
1.
a velvety cord or yarn of silk or worsted, for embroidery, fringes, etc.
2.
fabric made with a fringed silken thread used as the weft in combination with wool or cotton.
3.
any fabric with a protruding pile, as in certain rayon bedspreads.
4.
a deep-pile, durable, woolen carpeting with chenille weft: the most expensive power-loomed floor covering.
Origin
1730-40; < French: velvety cord, literally, caterpillar < Latin canīcula, with etymological sense “little dog,” though attested only in senses “shrewish woman, dogfish, Sirius” (see canicular); for parallel use of “cat” in same sense, see caterpillar
Examples from the web for chenille
  • The curl prevents the chenille stem from pulling out of the tulip and forms the center of the flower.
  • Soft, cozy faux fur chenille lining made for barefoot wear, cushioned insole.
  • Maroon is the dominant interior scheme, from the chairs to the chenille-covered settees.
  • The model sketched at the left with the contrasting yoke and belt is of cotton chenille.
  • The bed was unmade, the sheets pink with a nubbly chenille coverlet.
  • Fresh flowers, original lithographs and chenille bedspreads make this a romantic, cozy place to spend the night.
  • Carefully, poke a hole through the center of the stack from the bottom with a chenille stem.
British Dictionary definitions for chenille

chenille

/ʃəˈniːl/
noun
1.
a thick soft tufty silk or worsted velvet cord or yarn used in embroidery and for trimmings, etc
2.
a fabric of such yarn
3.
a rich and hard-wearing carpet of such fabric
Word Origin
C18: from French, literally: hairy caterpillar, from Latin canicula, diminutive of canis dog
Word Origin and History for chenille
n.

"velvety cord," 1738, from French chenille, properly "caterpillar," literally "little dog" (13c.), from Latin canicula "a dog" (also "a violent woman; the star Sirius; the worst throw in dice"), diminutive of canis "dog" (see canine (n.)). So called for its furry look. Cf. caterpillar.