denier1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈdɛnɪə/

noun

  • 1a unit of weight by which the fineness of silk, rayon, or nylon yarn is measured, equal to the weight in grams of 9,000 metres of the yarn and often used to describe the thickness of hosiery: 15-denier stockings
  • 2a former French coin, equal to one twelfth of a sou, which was withdrawn in the 19th century.

Origin:

late Middle English: via Old French from Latin denarius (see denarius). denier1 (sense 1) dates from the mid 19th century