SILK, noun

1. The fine soft thread produced by the insect called silk-worm or bombyx. That which we ordinarily call silk is a thread composed of several finer threads which the worm draws from its bowels, like the web of a spider, and with which the silk-worm envelopes itself, forming what is called a cocoon.

2. Cloth made of silk In this sense, the word has a plural, silks, denoting different sort and varieties, as black silk white silk colored silks.

3. The filiform style of the female flower of maiz, which resembles real silk in fineness and softness. Virginia silk a plant of the genus Periploca, which climbs and winds about other plants, trees, etc.

SILK, adjective Pertaining to silk; consisting of silk

SILK COTTEN-TREE, noun A tree of the genus Bombax, growing to an immense size; a native of both the Indies.