An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A type of hypothetical → topological defect in the structure of → space-time that forms when large, complicated symmetry groups are completely broken.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from M.Fr., from L. textura “web, texture, structure,” from stem of textere “to weave;” PIE base *tek- “to make” → technique.

Etymology (PE): Bâft, verbal noun, past stem of bâftan “to weave;” Mid.Pers. waf- “to weave;” Av. ubdaēna- “consisting of woven texture,”
from *ubda- “woven,” p.p. from vaf- “to weave; to sing,” literally “to weave the songs;” cf. Skt. vabh- “to bind, fetter,” ubhnāti “he laces together;” Gk. hyphainein “to weave,”
hyphos “web;” P.Gmc. *webanan (cf. O.N. vefa, M.L.G., M.Du., Du. weven, O.H.G. weban, Ger. weben; O.E. wefan; E. weave), from PIE *webh-/*wobh- “to weave.”