Etymology

sioloc, seolc. The immediate source is uncertain; it probably reached English via the Baltic trade routes (cognates in Old Norse silki, Russian шёлк, obsolete Lithuanian zilkaĩ), all from or cognate with late Latin sericum, neuter of Latin sericus, from Greek σηρικός, ultimately from an Oriental language (represented now by e.g. Chinese 絲 (sī) ‘silk’). Compare Seres.

Noun

1. A fine fiber excreted by the silkworm or other arthropod (such as a spider).

   The silk thread was barely visible.

2. A fine, soft cloth woven from silk fibers.

   I had a small square of silk, but it wasn't enough to make what I wanted.

3. The gown worn by a Senior (i.e. Queen's/King's) Counsel
4. a Senior (i.e. Queen's/King's) Counsel