orphrey
Plural: orphreys
Noun
- An ornamental band of needlework, often on ecclesiastical vestments.
- a richly embroidered edging on an ecclesiastical vestment
- Any elaborate embroidery, especially when made of gold thread; an object (such as clothing or fabric) adorned with such embroidery.
- An embroidered ornamental band or border on an ecclesiastical vestment, altar frontal, etc.
Examples
- He carefully placed ORPHREY on the board, adding a decorative flourish to his lead.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English orfray, orfrei, orefreys (“elaborate (especially gold) embroidery; fabric adorned with such embroidery; embroidered ornamental band or border; decorative elements”), from Anglo-Norman and Middle French orfrais, orfreis, orfrois, and other forms, from Late Latin aurifrasium, aurifrisium, aurifrigium and other forms, from Latin aurum Phrygium (“gold embroidery”, literally “Phrygian gold”), from aurum (“gold”) + Phrygium (neuter singular of Phrygius (“Phrygian”), the Phrygians being renowned for their gold embroidery). The English word is cognate with Late Latin orfrasium, orfresium, Old Occitan aurfre, aurfres, orfres (modern Occitan aurfrés), Spanish orofrés, orifrés.
Scrabble Score: 15
orphrey: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordorphrey: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
orphrey: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary