trapunto

noun

tra·​pun·​to trə-ˈpün-(ˌ)tō  -ˈpu̇n- 

plural trapuntos

: a decorative quilted design in high relief worked through at least two layers of cloth by outlining the design in running stitch and padding it from the underside

Examples of trapunto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The dining room banquette is upholstered in leather with trapunto embroidery by Penn & Fletcher, the table and chairs are antique, the photographs are by Vik Muniz, and the rug is by Stark Carpet. —Robert Rufino, ELLE Decor, 27 Mar. 2023

Haines embellished his sofas with monochrome trapunto, an Italian padded quilting technique, topped with pale-blue flatwork embroidery. —Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, WSJ, 23 Mar. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from past participle of trapungere to embroider, from tra- across (from Latin trans-) + pungere to prick, from Latin — more at trans-, pungent

First Known Use

circa 1924, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trapunto

noun

tra·​pun·​to trə-ˈpün-tō  -ˈpu̇n- 

plural trapuntos

: a type of quilting in which a design outlined with a single row of stitches is padded from behind to produce a decorative raised effect