■ noun
1》 a fine, strong, soft lustrous fibre produced by ~worms in making cocoons.
2》 thread or fabric made from this fibre.
3》 ( ~s ) garments made from ~, especially as worn by a jockey in the colours of a particular horse owner.
4》 Brit. informal a Queen's (or King's) Counsel. [so named because of the right accorded to wear a gown made of ~.]
5》 ( ~s ) the ~y styles of the female maize flower.
Phrases
take ~ Brit. become a Queen's (or King's) Counsel.
Derivatives
~en adjective
Origin
OE sioloc , seolec , from late L. sericum , neut. of L. sericus , based on Gk Sēres , the name given to the inhabitants of the Far Eastern countries from which ~ first came overland to Europe.