Flax (flks), 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.
Flax"en (?), a. Made of flax; resembling flax or its fibers; of the
color of flax; of a light soft straw color; fair and flowing, like flax
or tow; as, flaxen thread; flaxen hair.
Flax"-plant` (?), n. (Bot.) A plant in new Zealand (Phormium tenax),
allied to the lilies and aloes. The leaves are two inches wide and
several feet long, and furnish a fiber which is used for making ropes,
mats, and coarse cloth.
Flax"seed` (?), n. The seed of the flax; linseed.
Flax"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) See Toadflax.
Flax"y (?), a. Like flax; flaxen. Sir M. Sandys.
Flay (fl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flayed (fld); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaying.]
[OE. flean, flan, AS. fle·n; akin to D. vlaen, Icel. fl, Sw. flÂ, Dan.
flaae, cf. Lith. pleszti to tear, plyszti, v.i., to burst, tear; perh.
akin to E. flag a flat stone, flaw.] To skin; to strip off the skin or
surface of; as, to flay an ox; to flay the green earth.
With her nails She 'll flay thy wolfish visage.
Shak.
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Flay"er (?), n. One who strips off the skin.