BARRACAN, in commerce, a sort of stuff, not dia-
pered, something like cambric, but of a coarser grain.
It is used to make cloaks, turtouts, and such other gar-
ments, to keep off the rain.—The cities where the most
barracans are made in France are Valenciennes, Lille,
Abbeville, Amiens, and Roan. Those of Valenciennes
are the most valued; they are all of wool, both the
warp and the woof.