Nylon

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈnaɪlÉ’n/
• US nīʹlän, IPA: /ˈnaɪlɑːn/
• Rhymes: -aɪlÉ’n
• Hyphenation: ny + lon

Origin

Arbitrary letters + -on (by analogy with cotton); the frequently heard claim that the word derives from abbreviations of New York ("NY") and London ("Lon") is a myth.

Noun

1. Originally, the DuPont company trade name for polyamide, a copolymer whose molecules consist of alternating diamine and dicarboxylic acid monomers bonded together; now generically used for this type of polymer.
2. (plurale tantum) A stocking originally fabricated from nylon; also used generically for any long, sheer stocking worn on a woman's legs.They left the strip club when they discovered the ladies only stripped down to their nylons.

Anagrams

• nonyl