Bayeux Tapestry
Preserved but no longer current.
A strip of linen 231 ft. long and 20 in. wide on which is represented in tapestry the mission of Harold to William, Duke of Normandy (William the Conqueror), and all the incidents of his history from then till his death at Hastings in 1066. It is preserved at Bayeux, and is supposed to be the work of Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Bayeux Tapestry” mean?
A strip of linen 231 ft. long and 20 in. wide on which is represented in tapestry the mission of Harold to William, Duke of Normandy (William the Conqueror), and all the incidents of his history from then till his death at Hastings in 1066. It is preserved at Bayeux, and is supposed to be the work of Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror.
Is “Bayeux Tapestry” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.