Etamine is a loosely woven fabric with a similar structure to voile or a mesh. It is an open fabric structure manufactured with plain weaving by using hardly twisted cotton or wool yarns. There were further variations including various fibres such as silk. [1] [2] [3] [4] Etamine was initially used as filter cloth, but became popular in women's skirts from 1910. Etamine was used in a variety of applications, including garments, nun's veils, and even flags. [5]
The word étamine, which means sieve, is a borrowed word from French language. [5] [6] The kitchen tool of fabric mounted on a round frame is often referred to in English as the sound-alike "tammy" or "tami." [7] The same tool is can also be called a "drum-sieve" in other books about French cooking. [8]