Which French phrase is the historical source of the word “denim”?

“Serge de Nîmes” is the historical phrase traditionally cited as the source of the word “denim.”

The phrase is usually translated as “serge from Nîmes,” referring to a sturdy textile associated with the French city of Nîmes. English speakers gradually shortened the phrase into “denim,” the modern name for the cotton fabric used in blue jeans.

Denim is a twill fabric, typically woven with colored warp yarns crossing lighter weft yarns. This structure produces diagonal ribs and gives the cloth durability. Indigo dye commonly colors the warp, so the outer surface appears blue while the inside and worn areas become lighter.

The exact historical development of the term is sometimes presented cautiously because textile names changed across languages and periods. “Serge de Nîmes” is the standard traditional explanation, but it should not be confused with the separate origin of “jeans,” which is linked to the Italian city of Genoa and its French name, Gênes.