Floss (?; 195), n. [It. floscio flabby, soft, fr. L. fluxus flowing, loose, slack. See Flux, n.]
1. (Bot.) The slender styles of the pistillate flowers of maize; also called silk. 2. Untwisted filaments of silk, used in embroidering. Floss silk, silk that has been twisted, and which retains its loose and downy character. It is much used in embroidery. Called also floxed silk. --
Floss thread, a kind of soft flaxen yarn or thread, used for embroidery; -- called also linen floss, and floss yarn. McElrath. © Webster 1913
Floss, n. [Cf. G. floss a float.]
1. A small stream of water. [Eng.] 2. Fluid glass floating on iron in the puddling furnace, produced by the vitrification of oxides and earths which are present. Floss hole.
(a) A hole at the back of a puddling furnace, at which the slags pass out.
(b) The tap hole of a melting furnace. Knight. © Webster 1913
Floss, n. A body feather of an ostrich. Flosses are soft, and gray from the female and black from the male. © Webster 1913
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