selvage

S1E1L1V4A1G2E1
/ˈsɛlvɪd͡ʒ/

noun

The edge of a woven fabric, where the weft (side-to-side) threads run around the warp (top to bottom) threads, creating a finished edge.

Similar
UncommonScrabble 11

Meanings

selvage1

nounselvage (countable and uncountable, plural selvages)

plural selvages · alternative selvedge

  1. countableuncountablebusinessThe edge of a woven fabric, where the weft (side-to-side) threads run around the warp (top to bottom) threads, creating a finished edge.
  2. countableuncountableAny edge of fabric finished so as to prevent raveling.

    Her stately limbs the gather'd folds surround, / And spread their golden selvage on the ground.

    1803, Erasmus Darwin, The Temple of Nature, The Gutenberg Project, published 2008
  3. countableuncountablemediaThe excess area of any printed or perforated sheet, such as the border on a sheet of postage stamps or the wide margins of an engraving.
  4. countableuncountablegeographyA distinct border of a mass of igneous rock. It is usually fine-grained or glassy due to rapid cooling.
  5. countableuncountablegeographyClay-like material found along and around a geological fault.
  6. countableuncountableThe edge plate of a lock, through which the bolt passes
  7. countableuncountablebusinessThat part of a lode adjacent to the walls on either side.
verbselvage (third-person singular simple present selvages, present participle selvaging, simple past and past participle selvaged)

present singular third person selvages · participle present selvaging · participle past selvaged · past selvaged · alternative selvedge

  1. To give a selvage to (fabric).

Selvage2

proper nounSelvage (plural Selvages)

plural Selvages · alternative Salvidge · alternative Selvidge

Synonyms & antonyms

nounborder consisting of an ornamental fringe at either end of an oriental carpet

Similar
Broader

nounthe edge of a fabric that is woven so that it will not ravel or fray

Similar
Broader

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Dutchselfegghe
  2. Englishselvage

From early modern Dutch selfegghe (Modern Dutch zelfkant (“selvage”)), equivalent to self + edge.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian ива, кенар
  • ива (iva)finished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • кенар (kenar)finished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • кант (kant)any finished edge of fabric
Catalan voraviu, voraviu
  • voraviufinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • voraviuany finished edge of fabric
Dutch zelfkant
  • zelfkantfinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
Finnish hulpio, reunus
  • hulpiofinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • reunusexcess area of printed or perforated sheet
  • hulpiogeology: distinct border of a mass of igneous rock
French lisière
  • lisièrefinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
Hungarian szegés, szegély
  • szegésfinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • szegélyfinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
Italian cimosa, vivagno
  • cimosafinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • vivagnofinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • cimossafinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • lisierafinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • orloany finished edge of fabric
  • bordoany finished edge of fabric
Polish rąbek, krajka
  • rąbekfinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • krajkafinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • rąbekany finished edge of fabric
  • krajkaany finished edge of fabric
  • nadmiarowy kawałek arkuszaexcess area of printed or perforated sheet
  • otoczkageology: distinct border of a mass of igneous rock
  • otoczkageology: clay-like material along and around a geological fault
  • brzegedge plate of a lock
  • skrajedge plate of a lock
Portuguese bainha
  • bainhafinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
Russian кро́мка
  • кро́мка (krómka)finished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
Scottish Gaelic balt
  • baltfinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
Spanish orillo
  • orillofinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
Swedish stad, stadkant
  • stadfinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • stadkantfinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
Welsh ymylwe, ymylwe
  • ymylwefinished edge of a woven fabric parallel with warp
  • ymylweany finished edge of fabric
Cite this entry
APA

selvage. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/selvage

MLA

“selvage.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/selvage. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “selvage,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/selvage.

Source: selvage on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.