I know "espadrille" because a man in an Agatha Christie novel was described as wearing them, so I looked it up (this was years ago). If the same book had named the kind of cloth used on a couch, tablecloth or curtain, I definitely would not have been interested enough to look it up -- for all I know there may have actually been such a description in the book!
I would have guessed that "damask" might have something to do with the damasquine steel used in weapons manufacturing.
I know "espadrille" because a man in an Agatha Christie novel was described as wearing them, so I looked it up (this was years ago). If the same book had named the kind of cloth used on a couch, tablecloth or curtain, I definitely would not have been interested enough to look it up -- for all I know there may have actually been such a description in the book!
I would have guessed that "damask" might have something to do with the damasquine steel used in weapons manufacturing.