01 n. 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. …
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1.
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.(Bot.)
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2.
The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken and cleaned by hatcheling or combing.
Phrases & compounds
Earth flax —
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.
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 woman who spins flax.
Mountain flax —
amianthus.
New Zealand flax —
See Flax-plant.