sharkskin
(1) A heavy weight, fairly lustrous
cotton,
linen,
silk, or man-made
fiber fabric with a sleek, hard-fini
shed, crisp, and pebbly surface and a chalky
luster. Today, it is almost always made of
acetate or tri
acetate. Filament yarns, when used, are twisted and woven tightly in a plain-weave or basket-weave construction, depending on the effect desired. Staple
fiber yarns are handled in the same manner, except for
wool. Sharkskin is best known in its stark white color especially popular for tennis outfits and for permanently pleated white skirts when they are in fashion. (2) A
wool fabric in
twill weave, originally made of yarns of two colors.
