undercloth

Noun

undercloth (countable and uncountable, plural undercloths)

1. A tablecloth laid directly on the table, over which are placed other coverings such as an additional tablecloth that allows the undercloth to show through, or an additional tablecloth that completely covers the undercloth when it is used for stability or noise muffling, or simple mats that provide additional protection.
   • Cover the table with an undercloth of felting or of canton flannel, or with a clean cotton blanket, to protect the table, to lessen noise, and to improve the appearance of the cloth. Over this undercloth spread the tablecloth smoothly and evenly, the middle fold upward, exactly in the middle and...1916, Sister Loretto Basil Duff, A Course in Household Arts: Part I, page 27
   • Undercloth or table cloth Most restaurants now use a base cloth which covers the table. This is overlayed by a smaller table cloth called ‘overcloth’, ‘slip cloth’, or ‘napperons’. The overcloth is laid diagonally over the undercloth, and they are usually of contrasting colours. /[…]/ Using an...1996, Peter Dias, “5. Restaurant Equipment”, in The Steward, Orient Longman, →ISBN, “2. Selection of Restaurant Equipment”, “4. Linen”, pages 79–80
2. (broadly) A protective cloth that goes underneath something.
   • Fire apparatus used for confining the smoke, and of an undercloth upon which the insects are made to fall1825, Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society - Volume 3, page 432
   • The rollers, A, and S, are both prevented from revolving freely by means of a break or check line, and the counter-weights, b, b, so that the fabric and undercloth are held in a state of moderate tension, as they are drawn forward over the printing-table, B.1841 January, “Specification of a Patent granted to Robert Hampson of Mayfield Printworks, in Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Calico Printer, for an Improved Method of Block-Printing on Woven...
3. A cloth that is placed beneath a saddle.
   • Amiel checked the mare's hooves and shoes, to be sure she was fit to ride, then lifted down an undercloth and, at Alaïs' request, a riding rather than hunting saddle, then a bridle.2009, Kate Mosse, Labyrinth
   • It can be described as a square overcloth on top of a larger undercloth showing a rear dagged pattern.2013, David Karunanithy, The Macedonian War Machine, 359–281 BC, page iii
4. A cloth on which a body rests as bedding.
   • It. a Joyned beddsteed, a fether beed, a Matteres, an undercloth, ij bolsters, ij pillowes, a coverlett and ij olde Curteynes1880 February, James Hall, “A Chesshire Lady's Inventory in 1611”, in John Parsons Earwaker, editor, Local Gleanings: An Archaeological and Historical Magazine, number 8, page 297
   • On the platform, is placed the bedding belonging to the deceased, the undercloth, counterpane, etc., and at the head are laid the pillows, bolster-shaped and stuffed with cotton-tree fluff, or shredded palm-leaves, and covered with some gaily-coloured cotton cloth.2019, Mary Kingsley, Travels in West Africa
5. The lower of two cloths that together perform some function.
   • New canvas is used first as undercloths, and these as required are made to replace discarded overcloths.1931, Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (Great Britain), Bulletin - Issues 316-327, page 2
   • In many instances the annual cost of top cloths (jute is normally used for the undercloth) has been cut by half .1959, British Chemical Engineering, page 170
6. A cloth that is used as a base surface for some type of work, including cases where it is incorporated into the work.
   • Felt undercloth is available which is ruled and sectioned, to help you keep your characters in straight columns.1989, William Reed, Shodo: The Art of Coordinating Mind, Body and Brush, page 192
   • I also paint directly onto silk that has been stretched onto an undercloth or paper surface, not on a frame.2023, Sarah Campbell, Hand-painted Textiles, page 101
7. A fabric lining, especially one that adheres to the cloth that shows.
   • Table 5.10 45° Up Burning of Wool and Pure Synthetics as Composites with Fabric #5 as undercloth,1/2" (100% Cotton, T-Shirt) 1/2 inch spacing (65% Relative Humidity at 70°F)[…]Table 5.11 45° Down Burning of Synthetics as Composites, with Fabric #5 (100% Cotton, T-Shirt) as Undercloth1973, Measurement of Flammability and Burn Potential of Fabrics: Summary Report, December 1, 1971-January 31, 1973, pages 204, 208
   • In order to prevent this, following measures are to be considered: ( i ) To make the grey cloth or undercloth layer somewhat thicker. ( ii ) Use such fibre as back grey that absorbs dye better.1991, Textile Dyer & Printer - Volume 24, page 31
8. A type of fabric intended to be used as an undercloth.
   • He either buys an undercloth, light merino, or ordinary suiting, with three-eighths or quarter blood.1924, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Truth in Fabrics and Merchandise Mishandling Bill
   • But these undercloth bids do not remain secret for long.1937, Mohanlal Lalloobhai Dantwala, Chandulal Nagindas Vakil, Marketing of Raw Cotton in India, page 57
9. Any of various undergarments made from a rectangular piece of cloth.
   • Assistants help the actors dress and wrap the yards of starched undercloth which give many of the characters their bulbous shape.2003, Phillip Zarrilli, Kathakali Dance-Drama: Where Gods and Demons Come to Play
   • They consisted of Antarvasaka 安陀會, Uttarasanga 鬰多羅僧 and Samghati 僧伽梨, namely an undercloth, inner robe, and outer robe.2017, Joy Lidu Yi, Yungang: Art, History, Archaeology, Liturgy
   1. A cloth used to cover the genitals.
      • I found myself in a dripping, water-soaked world, naked save for the undercloth about my loins, unarmed save for Cylon's knife, which remained tangled in that undercloth.1957, Karl V. Eiker, Star of Macedon, page 74
      • She pulled the undercloth below her waist and threatened to hit any man who approached her. This, of course, was taboo: any man hit by a woman's undercloth was supposed to become impotent.2000, Nico Kofi Adiku, Azasu: Son of the Hunter, page 46
   2. A cloth used to bind the breasts.
      • Tshidi's doll stands on the window sill, heavy and solid. If I take off her blanket, I will find an undercloth. If I take off this undercloth, I will find breasts. If I take off these breasts, I will find arms. If I take off these arms, I will find holes.2006, Sarah Nuttall, African and Diaspora Aesthetics, page 172
      • The women wear a white bodycloth, a white undercloth tied round the chest, tightly wrapped square across the breasts, and reaching to the knees, and a white cloth worn like a cap on the head.2020, Edgar Thurston, Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume I of VII
   3. A cloth worn beneath a robe or other garment and that peeks out.
      • A little of the undercloth (antaravāsaka) is seen hanging down below the robe near the ankles. In addition, the transparency of the robe reveals the top of the undercloth, turned down at the waist and held in place by a broad cloth belt, while the two ends of the undercloth, folded together into a...1967, Towards a History of Sukhodaya Art, pages 23, 54
      • When the monk is standing up, the only visible part of his undercloth is the small section that hangs below the bottom of the robe.1976, Theodore Robert Bowie, Alexander B. Griswold, The Sculpture of Thailand