Silk"man (?), n.; pl. Silkmen (&?;). A dealer in silks; a silk mercer.
Shak.
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Silk"ness (?), n. Silkiness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Silk"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genera Asclepias and
Acerates whose seed vessels contain a long, silky down; milkweed.
Silk"worm` (?), n. [AS. seolcwyrm.] (Zoöl.) The larva of any one of
numerous species of bombycid moths, which spins a large amount of
strong silk in constructing its cocoon before changing to a pupa.
The common species (Bombyx mori) feeds on the leaves of the white
mulberry tree. It is native of China, but has long been introduced into
other countries of Asia and Europe, and is reared on a large scale. In
America it is reared only to small extent. The Ailanthus silkworm
(Philosamia cynthia) is a much larger species, of considerable
importance, which has been introduced into Europe and America from
China. The most useful American species is the Polyphemus. See
Polyphemus.
Pernyi silkworm, the larva of the Pernyi moth. See Pernyi moth. --
Silkworm gut, a substance prepared from the contents of the silk glands
of silkworms and used in making lines for angling. See Gut. - -
Silkworm rot, a disease of silkworms; muscardine.
Silk"y (?), a. [Compar. Silkier (?); superl. Silkiest.] 1. Of or
pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; silken; silklike; as,
a silky luster.