silk

silk
silk (n.) O.E. sioloc, seoloc "silk," ultimately from an Asian word (Cf. Chinese si "silk," Manchurian sirghe, Mongolian sirkek) borrowed into Gk. as serikos "silken," serikon "silk" (Cf. Gk. Seres, a name for an oriental people from whom the Greeks got silk). Also found in O.N. silki but not elsewhere in Germanic.
According to some sources, the use of -l- instead of -r- in the Balto-Slavic form of the word (Cf. O.C.S. ЕЎelku, Lith. ЕЎilkai) passed into English via the Baltic trade and may reflect a Chinese dialectal form, or a Slavic alteration of the Greek word. But the Slavic linguist Vasmer dismisses that, based on the initial sh- in the Slavic words, and suggests the Slavic words are from Scandinavian rather than the reverse.
Western cultivation began 552 C.E., when agents from Byzantium impersonating monks smuggled silkworms and mulberry leaves out of China. In reference to the "hair" of corn, 1660s, American English. Figurative use of silk-stocking (adj.) for "wealthy" is attested from 1798, American English. Silk-screen is first attested 1930. Silk road so called in English from 1931.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Silk — Silk, n. [OE. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. & Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk , and also L. sericum Seric stuff, silk. Cf. {Sericeous}. {Serge} a woolen stuff.] 1 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • SILK — SILK  формат аудиоданных и аудиокодек используемый Skype. Разработан компанией Skype Limited. SILK был разработан для замены другого кодека  SVOPC также созданного компанией Skype Limited. SILK являлся отдельной веткой разработки кодека …   Википедия

  • SILK — (Heb. מֶשִׁי, meshi). Silk is mentioned once in the Bible by Ezekiel (16:10, 13) in his description of the splendid garments of the Israelite woman. The commentators identify this meshi with silk, and there may be an etymological connection… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Silk — (engl. Wort für Seide) ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Anna Silk (* 1977), kanadische Schauspielerin Dave Silk (* 1958), US amerikanischer Eishockeyspieler David Silk (* 1936), anglikanischer Bischof Garnett Silk (1966–1994),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • silk´en|ly — silk|en «SIHL kuhn», adjective, verb. –adj. 1. a) made of silk: »a silken dress. The king wore silken robes. b) of or having to do with silk stuffs or goods. 2. like silk; soft, smooth, and glossy: »She has silken hair. 3. a) …   Useful english dictionary

  • silk|en — «SIHL kuhn», adjective, verb. –adj. 1. a) made of silk: »a silken dress. The king wore silken robes. b) of or having to do with silk stuffs or goods. 2. like silk; soft, smooth, and glossy: »She has silken hair. 3. a) …   Useful english dictionary

  • silk — [ sılk ] noun ** 1. ) uncount thin smooth cloth made from the fibers produced by an insect called a silkworm: an elegant shirt made of pure Chinese silk a ) only before noun made of silk: an expensive Italian silk suit b ) uncount the THREAD used …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Silk —    Silk production was a privatized state industry, centered in Constantinople (q.v.) and also, from the 11th century, in Athens, Corinth, Thebes, and Thessalonike (qq.v.). Justinian I (q.v.) established the industry by first smuggling silkworm… …   Historical dictionary of Byzantium

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