▪ I. flax, n.
(flæks)
Forms: 1 flæx, fleax, 1–5 flex, 4 south. vlexe, 4–6 flexe, 5–7 flaxe, (7 flacks), 4– flax.
[Com. W.Ger.: OE. fleax = OFris. flax, OS. *flahs (MDu., DU., LG. vlas), OHG. flahs (MHG. vlahs, mod.G. flachs):—OTeut. *flahso{supm} str. neut.; commonly referred to the OTeut. root *fleh-, flah- to plait:—OAryan *plek-, plok-; cf. Ger. flech-ten, L. plec-tere, Gr. πλέκ-ειν. Some think however that the root is flah- (:—OAryan *plak-) as in flay v., the etymological notion being connected with the process of ‘stripping’, by which the fibre is prepared.]
I. The plant.
1. The plant Linum usitatissimum bearing blue flowers which are succeeded by pods containing the seeds commonly known as linseed. It is cultivated for its textile fibre and for its seeds.
| c 1000 ælfric Exod. ix. 31 Witodlice eall hira flex and hira bernas wæron fordone. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. xcvii. (Tollem. MS.), Flexe groweþ in euen stalkes, and bereþ ȝelow floures or blewe. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop i. xx. Whanne the flaxe was growen and pulled vp. 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 39 b, Flax..is called of the Northen men lynt. 1677 A. Yarranton Engl. Improv. 47 The Land there for Flax is very good, being rich and dry. 1794 Martyn Rousseau's Bot. xvii. 240 Flax has also a corolla of five petals. 1869 H. Macmillan Bible Teach. iii. (1870) 49 The flax extracting from the earth the materials of those fibres which are to be woven into garments for us. |
2. a. With qualifying word prefixed, in the names of other species of
Linum or of plants resembling the true flax, as
dwarf-flax,
fairy-flax,
mountain-flax,
purging flax,
spurge-flax,
toad-flax,
wild flax: see
quots., and the different words.
| a 1387 Sinon. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.) 28 Linaria, wilde flax. 1670 Ray Catal. Plant. 196 Linum arvense..Common wild Flax. 1863 Prior Plant-n. 81 Dwarf-, or Purging-, or Fairy-Flax, Linum catharticum. 1878–86 Britten & Holland Plant-n. 187 Mountain Flax, (1) Linum catharticum..(2) Erythræa Centaurium. Ibid., Wild Flax, (1) Linaria vulgaris. (2) Cuscuta Epilinum. |
b. New Zealand flax,
Phormium tenax (also called
flax bush,
flax-lily,
flax-plant), a native of New Zealand, the leaves of which yield a textile fibre.
| 1832 A. Earle Narr. Res. N.Z. (1966) 64 Their food is always eaten out of little baskets, rudely woven of green flax. 1846 Lindley Veg. Kingd. iv. 203 In New Zealand they [Lilyworts] are represented by the Phormium or Flaxbush. 1854 Golder Pigeons' Parl. Introd. 5, I had..to pass the night..under the shade of a flax-bush. 1870 T. H. Braim New Homes viii. 375 The native flax (phormium tenax) is found in all parts of New Zealand. |
II. The fibre of flax.
3. a. The fibres of the plant whether dressed or undressed.
| c 1325 Gloss. W. de Biblesw. in Wright Voc. 156 Pik thi flax. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 676 This pardoner hadde heer as yelwe as wex, But smothe it heng, as doth a strike of flex. c 1483 Caxton Vocab. 18 The lynweuar, Weueth my lynnencloth Of threde of flaxe. 1530 Palsgr. 221/1 Flaxe redy to spynne, fillace. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. i. iii. 108 It [haire] hangs like flax on a distaffe. 1666 Pepys Diary (1879) VI. 34 In the town did see an old man beating of flax. 1767 Warburton Serm. 1 Cor. xiii. 13 Human laws, like a thread of flax before a flame, vanish and disappear before popular commotions. 1825 J. Neal Bro. Jonathan III. 323 You broke away from us like the Philistine from the un⁓twisted flax. |
| fig. 1533 More Debell. Salem v. Wks. 940/2 He spinneth that fyne lye with flex, fetchinge it out of his owne body as the spider spynneth her cobwebbe. |
b. pl. Different sorts or qualities of flax.
| 1886 Daily News 6 Sept. 2/4 There is a brisk inquiry for tows, hemps, and flaxes. |
† 4. As a material of which a candle or lamp wick is made; the wick itself.
Obs.| c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xii. 20 Flæx vel lin smikende ne adwæscet. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 189 Preestis of the chirche, þat smokiden bi pride as brent flex. 1529 More Comf. agst. Trib. ii. Wks. 1200/1 It is a thing right hard..to put flexe vnto fyre, & yet kepe them [the fingers] fro burning. 1560 Bible (Genev.) Isa. xlii. 3 The smoking flax shall he not quench. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, v. ii. 55 Beautie..Shall to my flaming wrath, be Oyle and Flax. 1632 Massinger & Field Fatal Dowry iv. i, He has made me smell for all the world like a flax or a red-headed woman's chamber. |
5. a. A material resembling the fibres of the flax-plant or used for a like purpose.
| 1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 19 The flaxe whiche is lefte, they spinne agayne. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia vi. 216 A kinde..of Flax, wherewith they make Nets. |
b. in the name of a variety of asbestos with flaxlike fibres, as earth-, fossil-, mountain-flax,
q.v. For
incombustible flax, see
asbestos 2.
| 1860 Whittier Double-h. Snake 4 Whether he lurked in the Oldtown fen Or the gray earth-flax of the Devil's Den. |
6. Cloth made of flax; linen.
| c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. xiv. 87 Of ðære eorðan cymeð ðæt fleax, Ðæt bið hwites hiwes. 1340 Ayenb. 236 Chastete þet is be-tokned be þe huite ulexe. 1537 Baret Alv. F 643 That beareth or weareth flaxe or linnen. 1851 Mrs. R. Wilson New Zealand 23 His robe of glossy flax which loosely flows. 1872 A. Domett Ranolf v. iii. 93 In flowing vest of silky flax, undyed. |
III. attrib. and
Comb. 7. a. simple
attrib. General relations (with or without hyphen), as
flax-blade,
† flax-bolle (see
boll n.1),
flax fibre,
flax leaf,
flax plant,
flax stalk,
flax stem,
flax-stick,
flax straw,
† flax top,
flax-swamp (
N.Z.).
| 1872 A. Domett Ranolf i. v. 11 With *flax-blades binding to a tree the Maid. |
| c 1325 Gloss. W. de Biblesw. in Wright Voc. 156 note, Boceaus, *flaxbolles [printed filaxlolles.] |
| 1875 Ure's Dict. Arts 409 Attempts have been made to prepare *flax fibre without steeping. |
| 1884 Bracken Lays of Maori 69 Zephyrs stirred the *flax leaves into tune. |
| 1838 Penny Cycl. X. 305/1 The *flax plants are passed between these cylinders. |
| 1875 Ure's Dict. Arts II. 409 The immersion of the *flax stems in water. |
| 1871 C. L. Money Knocking about in N.Z. iv. 52 Mogue[s is the] Maori name for a raupo or *flax-stick raft. 1933 L. G. D. Acland in Press (Christchurch) 14 Oct. 15/7 The dried reed stalks..are called f[lax]-sticks. |
| 1860 Ure's Dict. Arts II. 228 The sheaves of *flax-straw are placed erect in crates. |
| 1871 M. A. Barker Christmas Cake in Four Quarters iv. i. 251 A view of downs rolling into a narrow gully, the *flax swamp of which formed a natural boundary to one bit of the kitchen garden. 1926 H. Guthrie-Smith Tutira (ed. 2) 283 The destruction by fire of flax-swamps. |
| 1382 Wyclif Ecclus xxi. 10 A *flax top gedered togidere [Vulg. stuppa collecta] the synagoge of synneres. |
b. Concerned with flax as a commercial product, as
flax culture,
flax-factory,
flax-industry,
flax-man,
flax-merchant,
flax-mill,
flax-shop,
flax-spindle,
flax-tithe.
| 1875 Ure's Dict. Arts II. 455 Lands..prepared for *flax culture. |
| 1509 in Mkt. Harborough Records (1890) 232 Ric' Beale *Flaxman. 1799 A. Young Agric. Linc. 197 Let it to flaxmen at {pstlg}3 or {pstlg}4 per acre. 1807 Vancouver Agric. Devon (1813) 207 The flaxman only finding seed, and agreeing to have the field cleared by a given time. |
| 1835 Ure Philos. Manuf. 221 The proprietors of many *flax-mills. |
| 1600 Sir John Oldcastle i. iii, A man may make a *flax-shop in your chimnies, for any fire there is stirring. 1679 Bedloe Popish Plot 27 A Gentle-woman that kept a Flax-shop in the Minories. |
| 1875 Ure's Dict. Arts II. 456 The steam⁓driven *flax-spindle. |
| 1692 Rokeby Diary 18 Whether *Flax-tyth were small tythes or not. |
c. Made of flax, as
flax canvas,
flax-sandal,
flax-thread.
| 1872 A. Domett Ranolf xxi. ii. 378 His feet—with green flax-sandals shod. 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework 210/1 Flax Canvas..may be procured in various degrees of fineness and make. 1891 Daily News 8 Dec. 5/8 Flax-thread and spun stuffs. |
d. objective, as
flax-dresser,
flax-hackler,
flax-spinner,
† flax-swingler;
flax-cutting,
flax-dressing,
flax-growing,
flax raising,
flax-spinning vbl. ns.| 1632 Sherwood, A *flax-dresser, liniere. 1894 H. Speight Nidderdale 304 As many as 800 flax-dressers. |
| 1766 Complete Farmer s.v. Flax m3/1 They laid out money for breeding apprentices to flax-raising and *flax-dressing. 1874 A. Bathgate Colonial Experiences v. 52 Flax dressing is now a permanent industry. |
| 1780 A. Young Tour Irel. I. 164 They next send it to a *flax-hackler. |
| 1766 *Flax-raising [see flax-dressing above]. |
| 1856 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 379 The severe trial the *flaxspinners experienced. |
| 1838 Penny Cycl. X. 305/2 *Flax-spinning is now carried on with most success in..Yorkshire. |
| 1663 Canterbury Marriage Licences (MS.), Charles Abbot..*flaxswingler. |
e. Referring to the colour of the flower of the flax, as
flax-blue,
flax-flower blue.
| 1899 Daily News 20 May 8/6 Flax-flower blue, a lovely shade that seems to reflect the summer sky itself. 1900 Ibid. 28 July 6/7 Flax-blue Irish linen. |
8. a. Special comb.:
flax-bird, (
a) the North American goldfinch,
Chrysomitris tristis; (
b)
U.S. ‘a book-name of the scarlet tanager,
Piranga rubra’ (
Cent. Dict.); (
c)
dial. the common Whitethroat,
Curruca cinerea;
† flax-box, a box to hold the flax or tow match for firing a caliver or matchlock;
flax-brake (see
quot.);
flax-breaker = prec.;
flax-comb, an instrument for cleansing and straightening flax fibres, a flax-hackle;
flax-cotton, cottonized flax;
† flax-finch ? some species of finch;
flax-hackle (see
quot.);
flax-honey N.Z., honey from bees feeding on flowers of
Phormium tenax;
† flax-hoppe, a head or seed-pod of flax;
flax-hurd, the coarse parts of flax, tow;
flax-ripple (see
quot.);
flax-scutcher (see
scutcher); so
flax-scutching vbl. n.;
flax-thrasher, a machine for beating out the seeds from the bolls of the flax-plant;
flax-wench,
-wife,
-woman, a female flax-worker.
| 1822 Latham Hist. Birds VI. 120 American Yellow Finch..feeds on the seeds of flax, alder, &c., and is called in the back parts of Carolina, the *Flax Bird. |
| 1576 Lanc. Lieutenancy i. 77 Six calliuers, fyve *flaxe boxes. |
| 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. iii. 48 A *Flax Brake is two pieces of Timber with Teeth made in them to bruse Flax stalks. |
| 1889 Elvin Dict. Her., *Flax-breaker. |
| 1611 Cotgr., Brosse..a *flax-combe, or hatchell. 1755 Johnson, Flax-comb, the instrument with which the fibres of flax are cleansed from the brittle parts. |
| 1851 Lowell Lett. (1894) I. 192 The *flax-cotton is a great thing. |
| 1639 Horn & Rob. Gate Lang. Unl. xiv. §153 The goldfinch, larke, nightingale..and *flax-finch are singing birds. |
| 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 402 The *flax-hackle is an instrument or tool constructed for the purpose of hackling or straightening the fibres of the flax. |
| 1950 G. Dempsey Wind from Sea ii. 20 There's plenty of *flax-honey..the season has been too dry for clover honey. |
| 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 584/3 Folliculus, a *flexhoppe. |
| 1614 Markham Cheap Husb. ii. iv. 93 A little Rozen melted together with *Flaxehurds. 1673 Phil. Trans. VIII. 6067 Lap the joynted place about with a little hemp or flax-hurds. |
| 1880 Antrim & Down Gloss., *Flax-ripple, a comb with large iron teeth through which flax is drawn, to remove the bolls or seeds. |
| 1846 J. Baxter Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4) I. 277 The first *flax-scutching mill. |
| 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. i. ii. 277 My Wife..deserues a Name As ranke as any *Flax-Wench. |
| 1591 Greene Disc. Coosnage (near end) How a *Flaxe wife [etc.]. |
| 1611 Cotgr., Filandiere, a *Flaxe-woman. |
b. In the names of plants, as
flax-bush,
-lily (see sense 2 b);
flax-dodder,
Cuscuta Epilinum;
flax-tail, a dialect name of the reed-mace,
Typha latifolia;
flax-weed,
Linaria vulgaris, toad-flax;
flax-worts, the name given by Lindley to the family Linaceæ.
| 1852 J. M. Wilson Farmer's Dict. Agric., *Flax-dodder. |
| 1861 Miss Pratt Flower. Pl. V. 313 The Reed-mace is in Kent often called *Flax-tail. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal 445 Tode flaxe is called of the herbaristes of our time, Linaria, or *Flaxweede. |
| 1846 Lindley Veg. Kingd. vii. 485 Linaceæ, *Flaxworts. |
▪ II. flax, a. rare—1.
(
flæks)
[f. prec.] Having the colour of flax; flaxen.
| 1873 R. Broughton Nancy II. 241, I have my flax hair built in many strange and differing fashions. |
▪ III. flax, v. (
flæks)
[f. prec. n.] 1. trans. To wrap in fine linen.
rare—1.
| 1860 Reade Cloister & H. IV. 368 And oh the sheets I lie in here..Dives was ne'er so flaxed as I. |
2. U.S. a. trans. To beat;
app. in allusion to the beating of flax.
Cf. flaxen v.
b. intr. to flax round: to ‘knock about,’ bestir oneself.
| 1866 Lowell Biglow P. Introd., I think..to flax for to beat [is American]. 1884 L. W. Baldwin Yank. Sch. Teacher in Virginia iv. 29 I'm goin' to make some dried-apple fritters f'r dinner, an' you must flax roun' an' give me a lift. |