noun.
A heavy silk fabric, often interwoven with gold or silver, worn in the Middle Ages.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
noun.
Originally, a heavy silk material each thread of which was supposed to be twisted of six fibers; later, rich heavy silk material of any kind, especially that which had a satin-like gloss.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
adjective.
A species of silk stuff, or taffeta, generally interwoven with gold.