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flax
flax common name for members of the Linaceae, a family of annual herbs, especially members of the genus Linum, and for the fiber obtained from such plants. The flax of commerce (several varieties of L. usitatissimum ) has been cultivated since prehistoric times (see linen ). It was the major source of cloth fiber until the growth of the cotton industry (c.1800) and the competitive use of other fibers, such as jute. Flax has been transplanted from its native locales in Eurasia to all temperate zones of the world that provide a suitable habitat (a cool, damp climate) for its cultivation as a fiber plant; it is also grown in many tropical countries for its oil-bearing seeds. Flax plants grow to 4 ft (120 cm) in height and bear blue or white flowers that mature into bolls containing 10 seeds each. When grown for fiber, flax is sown densely to prevent branching and is gathered before maturity; for seed, it is sown sparsely and allowed to branch and fruit. To obtain the fiber, the stems, stripped of leaves, may be tied in bunches and immersed in warm water for a few days or in cool water for one or two weeks, or they may be spread out on grass and exposed to the dew and sun for several weeks. This process, called retting, permits bacteria to break down the woody tissues by fermentation and to dissolve by enzyme action the substances binding the fiber cells. After retting, the stems are washed and allowed to dry and then are scutched (beaten) to separate the fibers from other material and to crush the pith. A combing process (called hackling) removes any remaining nonfibrous matter. The fiber cells range in length from 1/2 to 2 in. (1.3–5.1 cm); the cell bundles (fibers) range from 12 to 36 in. (30–90 cm). Short, broken fibers are called tow and are used to make coarse fabrics and cordage; the long fibers are used for strong threads and fine linens. Flax fiber has also been used for such products as insulating material and writing and cigarette paper. The seeds are crushed to make linseed oil , and the remaining linseed cake is used for fodder; dried flaxseed has been used in various medicinal preparations. Flax is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Linales. |
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"flax." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "flax." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-flax.html "flax." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-flax.html |
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flax
flax may have been grown in Ireland during the Bronze Age, and the use of linen is well attested in the early historic period (see dress). Home production of linen continued during the medieval period, but the rapid commercialization of linen production took place in the 18th century, and the major expansion of flax cultivation during the early 19th century. The acreage of flax sown rose from about 70,000 in 1810 to around 175,000 by the early 1850s. Cultivation declined again during the later 19th century, as farmers became reluctant to grow a crop which required so much labour, and which often suffered in the damp Irish climate. By 1900, less than 50,000 acres were grown. The decline was temporarily reversed during both the First and Second World Wars, but the crop has now almost completely disappeared.
By 1800, more than 80 per cent of flax was grown in Ulster, most of it produced on tiny holdings rented by weaver‐farmers. Seed was mostly imported, from America, the Low Countries, and Russia. Cultivation was very labour intensive. Ground was usually ploughed, harrowed, and rolled before the seed was sown, and harrowed and rolled again after sowing. Flax grown for fibre was generally ready for harvesting about fourteen weeks after sowing. Until the 1940s all flax was pulled by hand, and tied into sheaves or ‘beets’ using bands made from rushes. Flax‐pulling machines became available during the 1940s, but by this time cultivation of the crop had almost died out. Jonathan Bell |
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"flax." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "flax." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O245-flax.html "flax." The Oxford Companion to Irish History. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O245-flax.html |
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flax
flax / flaks/ • n. a blue-flowered herbaceous plant (Linum usitatissimum, family Linaceae) that is cultivated for its seed (linseed) and for textile fiber made from its stalks. ∎ textile fiber obtained from this plant. ∎ used in names of other plants of the flax family or plants that yield similar fiber. ORIGIN: Old English flæx, related to German Flachs, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin plectere and Greek plekein ‘to plait, twist.’ |
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"flax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "flax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-flax.html "flax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-flax.html |
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flax
flax blue-flowered plant producing textile fibre and linseed. OE. flæx (fleax) = (M)Du. vlas, OHG. flahs (G. flachs) :- WGmc. *flaχsa, prob. to be referred to Gmc. *flaχ- *fleχ- :- IE. *plok- *plek- in Gr. plékein, L. plectere, G. flechten plait.
Hence flaxen XVI. See -EN3. |
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T. F. HOAD. "flax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "flax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-flax.html T. F. HOAD. "flax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-flax.html |
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flax
flax Slender, erect, flowering plant cultivated for its fibres and seeds. After harvesting, the stems are retted (soaked in water) to soften the fibres and wash away other tissues. The fibres are spun into yarn to make linen. The seeds yield linseed oil. Family Linaceae; species Linum usitatissium.
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"flax." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "flax." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-flax.html "flax." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-flax.html |
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flax
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "flax." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "flax." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-flax.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "flax." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-flax.html |
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flax
flax See linseed.
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DAVID A. BENDER. "flax." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAVID A. BENDER. "flax." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-flax.html DAVID A. BENDER. "flax." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-flax.html |
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flax
flax
•axe (US ax), Backs, Bax, fax, flax, lax, max, pax, Sachs, sax, saxe, tax, wax
•co-ax • addax • Fairfax • Ceefax
•Halifax • Telefax • Filofax • banjax
•Ajax
•pickaxe (US pickax) • gravlax
•gravadlax • poleaxe • toadflax
•parallax
•battleaxe (US battleax)
•minimax • climax • Betamax • anthrax
•hyrax
•borax, storax, thorax
•syntax • surtax • beeswax • earwax
•Berks, Lourenço Marques, Marks, Marx, Parks, Sparks
•annex, convex, ex, flex, hex, perplex, Rex, sex, specs, Tex, Tex-Mex, vex
•ibex • index • codex • tubifex
•spinifex • pontifex • Telex • triplex
•simplex • multiplex
•ilex, silex
•complex • duplex • circumflex • Amex
•annexe • Kleenex • apex • Tipp-Ex
•haruspex • perspex • Pyrex
•Durex, Lurex, murex
•Middlesex • unisex • Semtex • latex
•cortex, Gore-tex, vortex
•vertex • Jacques
•breeks, idée fixe, maxixe, Weeks
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Cite this article
"flax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "flax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-flax.html "flax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-flax.html |
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