Flax (flăks), 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 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.
Hear it pronounced