fine silk <shelley> [scarf]

[AudreyH]

Hello everybody,

Is the word "shelley" a synonym for "stole", "scarf", or something like that?

It is mentioned in a short description (and associated with a picture) of a stole: "White fine silk shelley".

Thanks for any comment.

 

[entangledbank]

I've never heard of it; it's not in the OED; and a search for "silk shelley" in Google Books doesn't produce any relevant examples. Together, that suggests it's an error, rather than a rare word. But I can't think of a word similar to 'shelley' that would make sense there. Can you give us more detail of where this picture comes from (what period, what the original language might have been, etc.)?

 

[AudreyH]

I've never heard of it; it's not in the OED; and a search for "silk shelley" in Google Books doesn't produce any relevant examples. Together, that suggests it's an error, rather than a rare word. But I can't think of a word similar to 'shelley' that would make sense there. Can you give us more detail of where this picture comes from (what period, what the original language might have been, etc.)?

Thank you for your answer. The sentence is from the catalogue of a fashion house. It refers to their last collection of scarves and stoles. I wonder if it might be an error for "Shawl"... It is associated with a picture of a stole, though.

 

[ewie]

Shawl is the nearest thing I can think of ... but it's not very near.

EDIT: I see you've already thought of that, Audrey

 

[Sparky Malarky]

Google "shelley scarf" and you will find that this is a style of scarf, crocheted in a particular (very simple) pattern. Apparently, the one in your catalog is made of silk yarn.

Who knew!

 

[AudreyH]

Thanks, Ewie!

 

[AudreyH]

You are right, Sparky Malarky, there are many pictures of "Shelley scarves" on the Internet. Thanks for your help!

 

[AudreyH]

That's what I found here: http://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Shetland-Lace-Guild-Spinners/product-reviews/1904746764

Shelley Scarf: uses cockle shell motif that really resembles actual shells.

 

[AudreyH]

Yes, Paul: your wife is right. So, maybe, "shelley" really comes from "shell".

 

[ewie]

maybe, "shelley" really comes from "shell".

In that case they ought to be spelling it shelly rather than Shelley. Mind you, a lot of people are spelling it like that, to judge from the googhits.

 

[Rover_KE]

You can use this website's own search facility. Enter 'shelley scarf' in the search box and click on images.