Artificial silk of plant origin; especially a material produced from the long, downy seed-hairs of any of numerous plants (chiefly those belonging to the family Apocynaceae), used for stuffing cushions, pillows, etc., or as a component of cloth.
Origin
Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Thomas Powell (1608–1660).
Definition of vegetable silk in US English:
vegetable silk
noun
Artificial silk of plant origin; especially a material produced from the long, downy seed-hairs of any of numerous plants (chiefly those belonging to the family Apocynaceae), used for stuffing cushions, pillows, etc., or as a component of cloth.
Origin
Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Thomas Powell (1608–1660).