Floss (?; 195), n. [It. floscio flabby, soft, fr. L. fluxus flowing, loose, slack. See Flux, n.] 1. (Bot.) The slender styles of the pistillate flowers of maize; also called silk.
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2. Untwisted filaments of silk, used in embroidering.
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3. A body feather of an ostrich. Flosses are soft, and gray from the female and black from the male.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Floss silk, silk that has been twisted, and which retains its loose and downy character. It is much used in embroidery. Called also floxed silk. -- Floss thread, a kind of soft flaxen yarn or thread, used for embroidery; -- called also linen floss, and floss yarn. McElrath.
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