■ noun
1》 the rough silk enveloping a silkworm's cocoon.
↘untwisted silk fibres used in embroidery.
↘the silky down in maize and other plants.
2》 short for dental ~ .
■ verb clean between (one's teeth) with dental ~.
Origin
C18: from Fr. (soie) floche , from OFr. flosche 'down, nap of velvet'.