schmatte
Worn-out old cloth
Schmatte is Yiddish for a rag or worn-out piece of cloth.
In American usage, particularly in New York, it refers dismissively to a cheap or shabby garment: I can't wear this schmatte to the wedding.
The word extends to anything considered worthless or of poor quality.
Someone in "the schmatte business" works in the garment industry—often self-deprecatingly.
Skirted one-piece garment
- blouseLoose-fitting upper garment
- ragWorn piece of fabric
- housedressSimple garment for home
- housecoatLightweight indoor robe
smock · apron · robe · shift · frock · wrapper · duster · muumuu
Ripped and worn out
- wornDamaged by use
- threadbareWorn until transparent
- raggedWorn to shreds
- frayedUnraveled at edges
moth-eaten · faded · secondhand · scruffy · beat-up · shoddy · crumpled · torn
dress
Skirted one-piece garment
- blouseLoose-fitting upper garment
- ragWorn piece of fabric
- housedressSimple garment for home
housecoat · smock · apron · robe · shift · frock · wrapper · duster · muumuu · nightgown
tattered
Ripped and worn out
- wornDamaged by use
- threadbareWorn until transparent
- raggedWorn to shreds
frayed · moth-eaten · faded · secondhand · scruffy · beat-up · shoddy · crumpled · torn · ratty
cloth
Woven or knit material
scrub · dust · swab · floorcloth · dishrag · washcloth · remnant · scrap · shred · tatter
shtetl
Historic Jewish village
tchotchke · nebbish · schmuck · kibitz · nosh · bubkes · kugel · knish · schmaltz · kvetch
schmattecouture
Custom high-fashion design
haute couture · finery · designer gown · bespoke suit · Chanel