Deshilachar

Deshilachar is a Spanish verb that denotes making fabric fray or unravel, usually by pulling or loosening the threads. It can refer to the edges of a textile becoming ragged or to the fabric unraveling more generally. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe something that is breaking apart or losing coherence, such as a plan or an argument.

Etymology and related terms: the verb derives from hilacha, a fragment or loose piece of cloth, with the prefix des- indicating reversal or loosening. Related sewing terms include deshilvanar, which means to unpick stitches, and hilacha, the noun for a loose thread or rag. The noun form deshilachado describes the state of being frayed or the result of deshilachar.

Forms and usage: deshilachar is typically transitive, as in deshilachar una tela (to fray a fabric). It can be intransitive when referring to fabric edges becoming frayed, as in las orillas se deshilachan. The past participle is deshilachado, used as an adjective to describe frayed edges or fabric in a state of unraveling.

Examples: El suéter se deshilachó tras varios lavados. La orilla de la prenda está deshilachada. Se deshilachan los bordes con el uso continuo. En sentido figurado, una historia puede deshilacharse si se introducen inconsistencias.

Vocabulario relacionado: deshilachamiento (proceso de deshilachar), deshilvanar (desunir costuras), hilacha (hilo suelto o resto de tela). En confección, se recomienda remallar o aplicar un dobladillo para evitar que el borde se deshilache.