1. A soft tufted cord of silk, cotton, or worsted used in embroidery or for fringing.
2. Fabric made of this cord, commonly used for bedspreads or rugs.

[French chenille, caterpillar, chenille, from Latin canīcula, diminutive of canis, dog.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.