Byssus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

byssus, plural byssuses, derives from Hebrew būṣ 'fine linen,' Aramaic bus, Greek βίσσος – 'a very fine yellowish flax and the linen woven from it', Latin byssus – 'fine cotton or cotton stuff', 'silk' and via New Latin to 'sea silk'.

As may be seen above, the word byssus not only refers to the excretions of seashells, as sometimes assumed, but was originally used for various fine threads and cloths.

1. An exceptionally fine and valuable fibre or cloth of ancient times. Originally used for fine flax and linens, its use was later extended to fine cottons, silks, and sea silk.
2. The long fine silky filaments excreted by several mollusks (particularly Pinna nobilis) by which they attach themselves to the sea bed, from which sea silk is manufactured. They range to 6 cm in length.
3. The stipe or stem of certain fungi which are particularly thin and thread-like.

[edit] References

• The Compact edition of the Oxford English dictionary: complete text reproduced micrographically and Supplement. Oxford at the Clarendon Press. 1987
• Webster's Third New International Dictionary (Unabridged) 1976. G. & C. Merriam Co.
• Ecsedy, Hilda 1975. "Böz – An Exotic Cloth in the Chinese Imperial Court." Hilda Ecsedy. Altorientalische Forschungen 3: pp. 145-153.