# scrim

> English word · Noun · IPA /skɹɪm/ · frequency rank #53,230

## Definitions
1. A kind of light cotton or linen fabric, often woven in openwork patterns, used for curtains, etc,.
2. A large military scarf, usually camouflage coloured and used for concealment when not used as a scarf.
3. A woven, nonwoven or knitted fabric composed of continuous strands of material used for reinforcing or strengthening membranes.
4. A theater drop that appears opaque when a scene in front is lighted and transparent or translucent when a scene in back is lighted.
5. A sheet of gauze etc. used to reduce the intensity of light.
6. Thin canvas glued on the inside of panels to prevent shrinking, checking, etc.

## Etymology
Attested since the end of the 18th century. Origin unknown.
In one of the earliest mentions, "The Statistical Account of Scotland", 1793, by John Sinclair, page 593, we read in a paragraph devoted to weavers: "Besides these, they are now much employed in working a thin kind of coarse linen called Silesias, vulgarly Scrims, whereof each piece is 27 or 30 inches broad".

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/scrim