Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Flax
Flax
(flăks)
, Noun.
[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. [GREEK] 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 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
.Webster 1828 Edition
Flax
FLAX
, n.1.
A plant of the genus Linum, consisting of a single slender stalk, the skin or herl of which is used for making thread and cloth, called linen, cambric, lawn, lace, &c. The skin consists of fine fibers, which may be so separated as to be spun into threads as fine as silk.2.
The skin or fibrous part of the plant when broken and cleaned by hatcheling or combing.