2. Hence, thread spun, or cloth woven, from the above-named
material.
3. That which resembles silk, as the filiform styles of the
female flower of maize.
{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.
2. Untwisted filaments of silk, used in embroidering.
{Floss silk}, silk that has been twisted, and which retains
its loose and downy character. It is much used in
embroidery. Called also {floxed silk}.
{Floss thread}, a kind of soft flaxen yarn or thread, used
for embroidery; -- called also {linen floss}, and {floss
yarn}. --McElrath.