Gabardineisatough,tightlywovenfabricusedtomakesuits,overcoatsandtrousers,oragarmentmadefromthematerial.Thefibreusedtomakethefabricistraditionallyworsted(awoolenyarn),butmayalsobecotton,syntheticormixed.Thefabricissmoothononesideandhasadiagonallyribbedsurfaceontheother.
Thefabrictakesitsnamefromthegarment,thegaberdine,whichisalong,looseovergarmenttiedatthewaist.ThiswascommonlyworninEuropeintheMiddleAgesbypilgrims,beggarsandalmsmen,andforsometimelaterbymanyEuropeanJews