fustian
UK: ˈfʌstɪən | US: ˈfʌstʃən
n. 1. A thick, durable twilled cotton fabric, often dyed in dark colors.
n. 2. Pompous or pretentious speech or writing; inflated language.
adj. 3. Made of or resembling fustian fabric; (figuratively) bombastic or overly ornate.
The word "fustian" traces back to Medieval Latin "fustaneum," derived from "fustis" (wooden stick or wine barrel), likely referencing the fabric’s origin in Fostat (a district in Cairo), where it was woven with a linen warp and cotton weft. Over time, its association with coarse, padded fabric led to the figurative sense of "pompous language" (16th century), implying empty grandeur akin to the fabric’s deceptive thickness.
The tailor preferred fustian for making sturdy work jackets.
His speech was full of fustian, masking the lack of substance.
The medieval manuscript described robes of fustian lined with silk.
Critics dismissed the politician’s fustian rhetoric as insincere.
She disliked the fustian upholstery but admired its durability.