Silk

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /sɪlk/

Definitions

1. A luxurious fabric made from this material, prized for its smooth texture and sheen
2. A natural protein substance spun into threads, essential in creating garments and accessories known for their drape and elegance
3. A soft and lustrous textile derived from the cocoons of silkworms, valued for its beauty and gentle touch

Etymology: The Chinese character 絲 (sī) names silk, and the word traveled west along with the cloth itself. Ancient Greeks knew the material as "sēr," and the people who produced it were called the Seres, a name Greek writers gave to the inhabitants of China. From "sēr" came the adjective "sērikos," which passed into Late Latin as "sēricus," and that Latin form, carried through the Baltic trade routes, gave rise to the Germanic words that became English. English originally had a different word for the fabric. Old English speakers used "sīde," and that word was displaced by "seolc," a form that later became the modern term. The Old English "seolc" is closely related to Old Norse "silki," which is the same word that survives in modern Scandinavian languages as "silke." The exact route by which the Germanic form reached English remains uncertain, though Baltic trade is the most likely channel. "Serge," a twilled woollen fabric, is a doublet of this word, meaning both come from the same ultimate source but entered English by different routes.

Synonyms: fabric, material, textile