any of various silky fibres obtained from the seed pods of certain plants
See also kapok
vegetable silk in American English
kapok
vegetable silk in American English
noun
a fine, glossy fiber, similar to silk cotton, from the seeds of a spiny Brazilian tree, Chorisia speciosa
Word origin
[1850–55]This word is first recorded in the period 1850–55. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: ethos, ethylene, heavyweight, muggins, proletariat