Note: The common species (Bombyx mori) feeds onm 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.
SILKY
Silk"y, a. [Compar. Silkier; superl. Silkiest.]
1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; silken; silklike; as, a silky luster.
2. Hence, soft and smooth; as, silky wine.
3. Covered with soft hairs pressed close to the surface, as a leaf; sericeous. Silky oak (Bot.), a lofty Australian tree (Grevillea robusta) with silky tomentose lobed or incised leaves. It furnishes a valuable timber.
SILL
Sill, n. Etym: [OE. sille, sylle, AS. syl, syll; akin to G. schwelle,
OHG. swelli, Icel. syll, svill, Sw. syll, Dan. syld, Goth. gasuljan
to lay a foundation, to found.]
Defn: The basis or foundation of a thing; especially, a horizontal piece, as a timber, which forms the lower member of a frame, or supports a structure; as, the sills of a house, of a bridge, of a loom, and the like. Hence: (a) The timber or stone at the foot of a door; the threshold. (b) The timber or stone on which a window frame stands; or, the lowest piece in a window frame. (c) The floor of a gallery or passage in a mine. (d) A piece of timber across the bottom of a canal lock for the gates to shut against. Sill course (Arch.), a horizontal course of stone, terra cotta, or the like, built into a wall at the level of one or more window sills, these sills often forming part of it.
SILL
Sill, n. Etym: [Cf. Thill.]
Defn: The shaft or thill of a carriage. [Prov. Eng.]
SILL
Sill, n. Etym: [Cf. 4th Sile.]