flax
[flaks] 
| 1. | any plant of the genus Linum, esp. L. usitatissimum, a slender, erect, annual plant having narrow, lance-shaped leaves and blue flowers, cultivated for its fiber and seeds. |
| 2. | the fiber of this plant, manufactured into linen yarn for thread or woven fabrics. |
| 3. | any of various plants resembling flax. |
bef. 900; ME; OE fleax; c. D, LG vlas, G Flachs
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
flax (flāks)  (click for larger image in new window) n.
[Middle English, from Old English fleax; see plek- in Indo-European roots.] |
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Flax
Flax\, 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. 2. The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken and cleaned by hatcheling or combing. 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 bicarbinate 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.Cite This Source
flax
Cite This Source
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.)
Cite This Source
flax
(genus Linum usitatissimum), plant of the family Linaceae and its fibre, which is second in importance among the bast fibre (q.v.) group. The flax plant is cultivated both for its fibre, from which linen yarn and fabric are made, and for its seed, called linseed, from which linseed oil is obtained.
Learn more about flax with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Cite This Source
Natural Brown Flax Seed in Bulk Golden Flax Seed and Fresh Ground
www.BulkFoods.com/FlaxSeeds.htm
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
