Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Flax"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Flax
(Heb. pishtah, i.e., "peeled", in allusion to the fact that the
stalks of flax when dried were first split or peeled before
being steeped in water for the purpose of destroying the pulp).
This plant was cultivated from earliest times. The flax of Egypt
was destroyed by the plague of hail when it "was bolled", i.e.,
was forming pods for seed (Ex. 9:31). It was extensively
cultivated both in Egypt and Palestine. Reference is made in
Josh. 2:6 to the custom of drying flax-stalks by exposing them
to the sun on the flat roofs of houses. It was much used in
forming articles of clothing such as girdles, also cords and
bands (Lev. 13:48, 52, 59; Deut. 22:11). (See {LINEN}.)
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Flax \Flax\, n. [AS. fleax; akin to D. vlas, OHG. flahs, G.
flachs, and prob. to flechten to braid, plait,m twist, L.
plectere to weave, plicare to fold, Gr. ? to weave, plait.
See {Ply}.]
1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Linum}, esp. the {L.
usitatissimum}, which has a single, slender stalk, about a
foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fiber of the
bark is used for making thread and cloth, called linen,
cambric, lawn, lace, etc. Linseed oil is expressed from
the seed.
2. The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken
and cleaned by hatcheling or combing.
{Earth flax} (Min.), amianthus.
{Flax brake}, a machine for removing the woody portion of
flax from the fibrous.
{Flax comb}, a hatchel, hackle, or heckle.
{Flax cotton}, the fiber of flax, reduced by steeping in
bicarbinate of soda and acidulated liquids, and prepared
for bleaching and spinning like cotton. --Knight.
{Flax dresser}, one who breaks and swingles flax, or prepares
it for the spinner.
{Flax mill}, a mill or factory where flax is spun or linen
manufactured.
{Flax puller}, a machine for pulling flax plants in the
field.
{Flax wench}.
(a) A woman who spins flax. [Obs.]
(b) A prostitute. [Obs.] --Shak.
{Mountain flax} (Min.), amianthus.
{New Zealand flax} (Bot.) See {Flax-plant}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Fossil \Fos"sil\, a. [L. fossilis, fr. fodere to dig: cf. F.
fossile. See {Fosse}.]
1. Dug out of the earth; as, fossil coal; fossil salt.
2. (Paleon.) Like or pertaining to fossils; contained in
rocks, whether petrified or not; as, fossil plants,
shells.
{Fossil copal}, a resinous substance, first found in the blue
clay at Highgate, near London, and apparently a vegetable
resin, partly changed by remaining in the earth.
{Fossil cork}, {flax}, {paper}, or {wood}, varieties of
amianthus.
{Fossil farina}, a soft carbonate of lime.
{Fossil ore}, fossiliferous red hematite. --Raymond.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
flax
n 1: fiber of the flax plant that is made into thread and woven
into linen fabric
2: plant of the genus Linum that is cultivated for its seeds
and for the fibers of its stem
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