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selvage (US) or selvedge (UK) - n., the edge of woven or flat-knitted fabric finished so as to prevent raveling, often in a narrow tape effect; an edge (as of fabric or paper) meant to be cut off and discarded, an outer or peripheral part; the edge plate of a lock that has a slot for a bolt
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Plus several geological meanings too numerous to chase down. The original meaning is the fabric edging, and like a lot of weaving terms this is an old one: it dates to the mid-14th century, coined from self + edge either directly in Middle English on the model of Middle Dutch selfegghe (Modern Dutch zelfegge) or taken from Middle Dutch selfegghe, which is also self + edge only in Dutch form.
---L.
Thanks, WikiMedia!
Plus several geological meanings too numerous to chase down. The original meaning is the fabric edging, and like a lot of weaving terms this is an old one: it dates to the mid-14th century, coined from self + edge either directly in Middle English on the model of Middle Dutch selfegghe (Modern Dutch zelfegge) or taken from Middle Dutch selfegghe, which is also self + edge only in Dutch form.
---L.
