1. 1. A coarse twilled cloth, usually cotton, used for jeans, overalls, and work uniforms.
   2. denims Trousers or another garment made of this cloth.
2. A similar but finer fabric used in draperies and upholstery.

[French (serge) de Nîmes, (serge) of Nîmes, after NÎMES, France.]

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.