English

Proper noun

Dimity

1. A female given name of modern usage.
   • 1990, Miss Read (Dora Jessie Saint), Friends at Thrush Green, 2002, page 98,

     'Raffle books,' she announced.

     'What for?' enquired Dimity, feeling for her purse and about to do a vicar's wife's familiar duty.

2. A surname​.
   • 1843, N. P. Willis, Meena Dimity: Or Why Mr. Brown Crash Took His Tour, George R. Graham, Rufus W. Griswold (editors), Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature and Art, Volumes 22-23, page 134,

     The Diaper family lived in Sassafras street—the Dimity family in Pepperidge street; and the fathers of the Diaper girls and the Dimity girls were worth about the same money, and had both made it in the lumber line.

English

Noun

dimity ‎(plural dimities)

1. (dated in general use, now textiles) A light strong fabric with woven stripes or squares. [From 15th c.]
   • 1717, T. Williams, The Accomplished Housekeeper, and Universal Cook, page 134,

     Strain the ſoup through a piece of dimity into a clean ſaucepan, and let it ſtew till it is of the thickneſs of cream.

   • 1831, John Murphy, A Treatise on the Art of Weaving, Glasgow, page 42,

     The first of these tweels, in respect to the number of leaves, is the dimity cord, which is merely the three leafed tweel turned, a plan of which is subjoined, both for cording and treading.

   • 1840, "A Lady", The Workwoman's Guide, page 42,

     The drapery should always be perfectly white, of dimity, twilled muslin, or other neat strong material.

   • 2009 Fall, Rabbit Goody, Jill Mancy, Interiors: Bug Bars & Slipcovers, Early Homes, page 20,

     Period slipcovers were typically made of linen and cotton, in woven checks or striped dimities.

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