Meanings
nounnainsook (countable and uncountable, plural nainsooks)
plural nainsooks · alternative nyansook
- countableuncountableA soft, fine muslin of South Asian origin, sometimes used to make baby clothes.
Smocking done in colors on fine white batiste, silk mull, or nainsook makes pretty guimpes and dresses for children and very smart blouses for women.
1916, “Smocking”, in The Dressmaker: A Complete Book on All Matters Connected with Sewing and Dressmaking […], 2nd revised and enlarged edition, New York, N.Y.; London: The Butterick Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 29
Origin
- Hindiनैनसुख
- Englishnainsook
From Hindi नैनसुख (nainsukh), from नैन (nain, “eye”) + सुख (sukh, “pleasure, luxury”).
More words from Hindi
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
nainsook. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nainsook
MLA
“nainsook.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nainsook. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nainsook,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nainsook.
Source: nainsook on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.