1. Plural of petersham: a thick, corded ribbon or braid used for stiffening garments, especially waistbands and hat brims.
Usage: chiefly British; textile/fashion term
2. Plural of petersham: a type of heavy woolen overcoat, typically with a collar of fur or velvet.
Usage: chiefly British; historical/fashion term

Examples

• The tailor used petershams to reinforce the waistbands of the trousers.
• Victorian dressmakers relied on petershams to give structure to their garments.
• The hat maker stitched petershams along the inner brim for added support.
• Petershams were essential materials in nineteenth-century haberdashery.
• The coat featured a luxurious petersham collar trimmed with beaver fur.