| flax | 1. <botany> A plant of the genus Linum, especially. The L. Usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fibre 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, amianthus. <botany> New Zealand flax See Flax-plant. Origin: 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| flax-dresser's disease | <disease> Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by inhalation of particles of unprocessed flax; a form of byssinosis. See: byssinosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| flax-plant | <botany> 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 fibre which is used for making ropes, mats, and coarse cloth. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| flaxseed | The seed of the flax; linseed. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| flaxseed oil | <chemical> The fixed oil obtained from the dried ripe seed of linseed, linum usitatissimum (l. Linaceae). It is used as an emollient in liniments, pastes, and medicinal soaps, and in veterinary medicine as a laxative. It is also called flaxseed oil. Pharmacological action: cathartic, emollients. Chemical name: Linseed oil (12 Dec 1998) |
| flaxweed | <botany> See Toadflax. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earth flax | <chemical> A variety of asbestus. See Amianthus. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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