Flax

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Flax \Flax\ (fl[a^]ks), 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken
        and cleaned by hatcheling or combing.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {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
        bicarbonate 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}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [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

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}.)