a region in central Europe along both banks of the upper Oder River, mainly in SW Poland and the N Czech Republic: formerly divided between Germany (which had the largest portion), Poland, and Czechoslovakia; by provision of the Potsdam agreement 1945, the greater part of German Silesia came under Polish administration; rich deposits of coal, iron, and other minerals.
a twill-weave fabric of cotton or other fibre, used esp for pockets, linings, etc
[C17: Latinized form of German SchlesienSilesia]
Silesia (saɪˈliːʃɪə)
—n
Polish name: Śląsk, Czech name: Slezsko, German name: Schlesien a region of central Europe around the upper and middle Oder valley: mostly annexed by Prussia in 1742 but became almost wholly Polish in 1945; rich coal and iron-ore deposits