Etymology Dictionary

CAMLET,  a sort of cloth.  (F.,—Low Lat.)   So called because originally made of camel's hair.   Camlet is short for camelot, which occurs in Sir T. Browne's Vulg. Errors, bk. v. c. 15. § 3.—F. camelot, which Cotgrave explains by 'chamlet, also Lisle grogram.'—Low Lat. camelotum, cloth of camel's hair.—Lat. camelus, a camel.   See Camel. [※]

ERRATA

Of Arabic origin; not from camel, but from Arab. khamlat, from khaml, pile, plush; Marco Polo, ed. Yule, i. 248.   We find Arab. khamlat, khamalat, 'camelot, silk and camel's hair, also, all silk or velvet,' Rich. Dict. p. 628; khaml, 'the skirts or flaps of a garment, a carpet with a long pile, a cushion on a saddle, plumage of an ostrich;' ibid.   Thus it appears that camel's hair was sometimes used for making it, so that confusion with camel was inevitable.