gauze
pronunciation
How to pronounce gauze in British English:
UK [gɔ:z]
How to pronounce gauze in American English:
US [ɡɔz]
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- Noun:
- (medicine) bleached cotton cloth of plain weave used for bandages and dressings
- a net of transparent fabric with a loose open weave
Word Origin
- gauze
- gauze: [16] Many terms for various types of fabric come from the name of a place they were originally associated with, from obvious derivatives such as damask from Damascus to more obscure associations like denim from Nîmes in France, and gauze appears to be no exception. It was borrowed from French gaze, which is generally assumed to have been named after Gaza, a city in medieval Palestine which was closely associated with the production of gauze.
- gauze (n.)
- 1560s, gais, from French gaze, which is of uncertain origin. It has been conjectured to be from Arabic gazz "raw silk" [Barnhart], or from Gaza, Palestinian city associated with production of this fabric [Klein, Du Cagne], but Century Dictionary calls the latter conjecture, and there has been no evidence for either.
Example
- 1. Her left elbow was wrapped in gauze , but she otherwise appeared alert .
- 2. Gently place a shield or gauze patch over the eye until you can get medical attention
- 3. But spectators could still lift the gauze to get a better look .
- 4. Apply direct pressure to the entire wound with a sterile gauze dressing or a clean cloth .
- 5. The dutch rider finished the 168.5 km stage with gauze wrapped around his face to cover his bloodied nose .