Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A sturdy twilled cotton fabric used for linings and pockets.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Silesian textile made of flax or cotton.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[After Silesia.]

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Examples

  • Regardless of the daylight he had turned up the electric light on that side of the window to reflect a warm glow upon the heap, and behind, in pursuit of contrasted bleakness, he was now hanging long strips of grey silesia and chilly coloured linen dusterings.

    The History of Mr. Polly 2003

  • He followed this up by hurling first a blanket, then an armful of silesia, then a window support out of the window into the shop.

    The History of Mr. Polly 2003

  • The doorway framed an undersized, obese old man who wore a skullcap of black silesia.

    Sacrifice Stephen French Whitman

  • In sewing buttons on a cloak or coat an extra strip of canvas or silesia over the canvas interlining should be placed the entire length of the buttoning for strength.

    Textiles and Clothing Kate Heintz Watson

  • These are used over silk and silesia for backgrounds, and are exceedingly pretty, with pillow shams to match.

    The Ladies Book of Useful Information Compiled from many sources Anonymous

  • Silk, of course, is the ideal material; but its costliness puts it beyond ordinary means, and common silesia, such as is used in dress linings, is almost as good.

    McClure's Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 4, March, 1896 Various

  • As Christmas drew near Marty found herself very busy, for besides some little presents she was making for her "own folks," she and her mother set to work to mend some of her old toys, to dress some new cheap dolls, and to make a few picture-books of bright pretty cards pasted on silesia and yellow muslin, for the little Torrences and other poor children they knew of.

    A Missionary Twig Emma L. Burnett

  • She upset the tray of needles, forgot the silesia was to be

    Little Women 1921

  • She sighed over the cheap jackets, with silesia linings and raveled buttonholes, which nameless copyists tried to make attractive by the clean embroidered linen collars which they themselves laundered in wash-bowls in the evening.

    The Job An American Novel Sinclair Lewis 1918

  • At present many people think that if you add oxygen to Silesia you will get oxide of silesia and can take spots out of clothes with it.

    Love Conquers All Robert Benchley 1917

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