orphrey

English

Alternative forms

orfrey
orphray

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman orfrais, orfreis et al., Middle French orfrais, from Late Latin aurifrasium, aurifrisium, variant of aurifrigium, from Latin aurum Phrygium (“gold embroidery”), literally “Phrygian gold”.

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɔːfɹi/

Noun

orphrey (plural orphreys)

(obsolete) Any elaborate embroidery, especially made of gold thread. [14th-19th c.]
(Christianity) An embroidered ornamental band or border on an ecclesiastical vestment, altar frontal, etc. [from 15th c.]
- 1890, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, ch. XI:
  The orphreys were divided into panels representing scenes from the life of the Virgin, and the coronation of the Virgin was figured in coloured silks upon the hood.

References

“orphrey” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

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