Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Peter Simmonds (1814–1897), newsagent and journalist. From French padou from Padoue, the French name of the city of Padua, where the textile was first produced.
Definition of padou in US English:
padou
nounˈpaduː
rare
A kind of silk tape or ribbon.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Peter Simmonds (1814–1897), newsagent and journalist. From French padou from Padoue, the French name of the city of Padua, where the textile was first produced.