Flax
Pronunciation
- IPA: /flæks/
- Rhymes: -æks
Origin
From Old English fleax, from Proto-Germanic *flahsÄ…, from Proto-Indo-European *plek- ("to plait"). Cognate with Old Frisian flax, Old Saxon *flahs (Dutch vlas), Old High German flahs (German Flachs); the Northern Germanic (and most likely the Gothic too
Etymology in the Deutsches Wörterbuch of Jakob und Wilhelm Grimm: "however, Old Norse hör ... The Gothic word has not been transmitted, but one might guess harvs"
) stem is different.
Full definition of flax
Noun
flax
(plural flaxes)- A plant of the genus Linum, especially , which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. Also known as linseed, especially when referring to the seeds.
- The fibers of Linum usitatissimum, grown to make linen and related textiles.
- The , a plant of the genus , native to New Zealand, with strap-like leaves up to 3 metres long that grow in clumps.
Usage notes
The plural flaxes is used to indicate multiple species or varieties of flax; otherwise, flax is uncountable.