Silk

Silk
Silk Silk, n. [OE. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. & Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk', and also L. sericum Seric stuff, silk. Cf. {Sericeous}. {Serge} a woolen stuff.] 1. The fine, soft thread produced by various species of caterpillars in forming the cocoons within which the worm is inclosed during the pupa state, especially that produced by the larv[ae] of {Bombyx mori}. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence, thread spun, or cloth woven, from the above-named material. [1913 Webster]

3. That which resembles silk, as the filiform styles of the female flower of maize. [1913 Webster]

{Raw silk}, silk as it is wound off from the cocoons, and before it is manufactured.

{Silk cotton}, a cottony substance enveloping the seeds of the silk-cotton tree.

{Silk-cotton tree} (Bot.), a name for several tropical trees of the genera {Bombax} and {Eriodendron}, and belonging to the order {Bombace[ae]}. The trees grow to an immense size, and have their seeds enveloped in a cottony substance, which is used for stuffing cushions, but can not be spun.

{Silk flower}. (Bot.) (a) The silk tree. (b) A similar tree ({Calliandra trinervia}) of Peru.

{Silk fowl} (Zo["o]l.), a breed of domestic fowls having silky plumage.

{Silk gland} (Zo["o]l.), a gland which secretes the material of silk, as in spider or a silkworm; a sericterium.

{Silk gown}, the distinctive robe of a barrister who has been appointed king's or queen's counsel; hence, the counsel himself. Such a one has precedence over mere barristers, who wear stuff gowns. [Eng.]

{Silk grass} (Bot.), a kind of grass ({Stipa comata}) of the Western United States, which has very long silky awns. The name is also sometimes given to various species of the genera {Aqave} and {Yucca}.

{Silk moth} (Zo["o]l.), the adult moth of any silkworm. See {Silkworm}.

{Silk shag}, a coarse, rough-woven silk, like plush, but with a stiffer nap.

{Silk spider} (Zo["o]l.), a large spider ({Nephila plumipes}), native of the Southern United States, remarkable for the large quantity of strong silk it produces and for the great disparity in the sizes of the sexes.

{Silk thrower}, {Silk throwster}, one who twists or spins silk, and prepares it for weaving. --Brande & C.

{Silk tree} (Bot.), an Asiatic leguminous tree ({Albizzia Julibrissin}) with finely bipinnate leaves, and large flat pods; -- so called because of the abundant long silky stamens of its blossoms. Also called {silk flower}.

{Silk vessel}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Silk gland}, above.

{Virginia silk} (Bot.), a climbing plant ({Periploca Gr[ae]ca}) of the Milkweed family, having a silky tuft on the seeds. It is native in Southern Europe. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • silkələnmə — «Silkələnmək»dən f. is …   Azərbaycan dilinin izahlı lüğəti

  • silkəmə — «Silkəmək»dən f. is …   Azərbaycan dilinin izahlı lüğəti

  • SILK — SILK  формат аудиоданных и аудиокодек используемый Skype. Разработан компанией Skype Limited. SILK был разработан для замены другого кодека  SVOPC также созданного компанией Skype Limited. SILK являлся отдельной веткой разработки кодека …   Википедия

  • SILK — (Heb. מֶשִׁי, meshi). Silk is mentioned once in the Bible by Ezekiel (16:10, 13) in his description of the splendid garments of the Israelite woman. The commentators identify this meshi with silk, and there may be an etymological connection… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Silk — (engl. Wort für Seide) ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Anna Silk (* 1977), kanadische Schauspielerin Dave Silk (* 1958), US amerikanischer Eishockeyspieler David Silk (* 1936), anglikanischer Bischof Garnett Silk (1966–1994),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • silk — (n.) O.E. sioloc, seoloc silk, ultimately from an Asian word (Cf. Chinese si silk, Manchurian sirghe, Mongolian sirkek) borrowed into Gk. as serikos silken, serikon silk (Cf. Gk. Seres, a name for an oriental people from whom the Greeks got silk) …   Etymology dictionary

  • silk´en|ly — silk|en «SIHL kuhn», adjective, verb. –adj. 1. a) made of silk: »a silken dress. The king wore silken robes. b) of or having to do with silk stuffs or goods. 2. like silk; soft, smooth, and glossy: »She has silken hair. 3. a) …   Useful english dictionary

  • silk|en — «SIHL kuhn», adjective, verb. –adj. 1. a) made of silk: »a silken dress. The king wore silken robes. b) of or having to do with silk stuffs or goods. 2. like silk; soft, smooth, and glossy: »She has silken hair. 3. a) …   Useful english dictionary

  • silk — [ sılk ] noun ** 1. ) uncount thin smooth cloth made from the fibers produced by an insect called a silkworm: an elegant shirt made of pure Chinese silk a ) only before noun made of silk: an expensive Italian silk suit b ) uncount the THREAD used …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Silk —    Silk production was a privatized state industry, centered in Constantinople (q.v.) and also, from the 11th century, in Athens, Corinth, Thebes, and Thessalonike (qq.v.). Justinian I (q.v.) established the industry by first smuggling silkworm… …   Historical dictionary of Byzantium

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