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Synonyms for silk
| Grammar : Noun |
| Spell : silk |
| Phonetic Transcription : sɪlk |
Définition of silk
Origin :- c.1300, from Old English seoloc, sioloc "silk, silken cloth," from Latin sericum "silk," plural serica "silken garments, silks," literally "Seric stuff," neuter of Sericus, from Greek Serikos "silken; pertaining to the Seres," an oriental people of Asia from whom the Greeks got silks. Western cultivation began 552 C.E., when agents from Byzantium impersonating monks smuggled silkworms and mulberry leaves out of China.
- Chinese si "silk," Manchurian sirghe, Mongolian sirkek have been compared to this and the people name in Greek might be a rendering via Mongolian of the Chinese word for "silk," but this is uncertain.
- Also found in Old Norse as silki but not elsewhere in Germanic. The more common Germanic form is represented by Middle English say, from Old French seie, with Spanish seda, Italian seta, Dutch zijde, German Seide is from Medieval Latin seta "silk," perhaps elliptical for seta serica, or else a particular use of seta "bristle, hair" (see seta (n.)).
- According to some sources [Buck, OED], the use of -l- instead of -r- in the Balto-Slavic form of the word (cf. Old Church Slavonic šelku, Lithuanian šilkai) passed into English via the Baltic trade and may reflect a Chinese dialectal form, or a Slavic alteration of the Greek word. But the Slavic linguist Vasmer dismisses that, based on the initial sh- in the Slavic words, and suggests the Slavic words are from Scandinavian rather than the reverse.
- As an adjective from mid-14c. In reference to the "hair" of corn, 1660s, American English. Figurative use of silk-stocking (n.) is from 1590s; as an adjective meaning "wealthy" it is attested from 1798, American English (silk stockings, especially worn by men, being regarded as extravagant and reprehensible, indicative of luxurious habits). Silk-screen (n.) is first attested 1930; as a verb from 1961. Silk road so called in English from 1931.
- noun fabric
- A hinge creaked, but it was no louder than the rustle of silk against silk.
- Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
- Get it ready for canning by husking it and removing the silk.
- Extract from : « Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5 » by Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
- The work-room of a silk factory affords a curious spectacle.
- Extract from : « The Roof of France » by Matilda Betham-Edwards
- I secretly hoped for a silk, but Mother, to whom I suppose I am even now—now!
- Extract from : « The Bacillus of Beauty » by Harriet Stark
- If you'd been onto your job, things would have been smooth as silk.
- Extract from : « Chip, of the Flying U » by B. M. Bower
- Never before had the chasubles she embroidered been so resplendent with silk and gold.
- Extract from : « The Dream » by Emile Zola
- Outside in the aisle stood a man with a silk hat in his hand.
- Extract from : « The Underdog » by F. Hopkinson Smith
- He rubbed his hand over its silk surface and listened to the sound it made.
- Extract from : « The Foolish Lovers » by St. John G. Ervine
- To be a gentleman was a matter of silk breeches and perukes and late hours?
- Extract from : « In the Valley » by Harold Frederic
- "Fine as silk," replied the sergeant from his own heap of shucks.
- Extract from : « The Rock of Chickamauga » by Joseph A. Altsheler
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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019