corn silk

American  

noun

1. the long, threadlike, silky styles on an ear of corn.

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corn silk British  

noun

1. the silky tuft of styles and stigmas at the tip of an ear of maize, formerly used as a diuretic

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Etymology

Origin of corn silk

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Remove any corn silk, lightly brush corn with oil, then grill, turning occasionally until the kernels are golden brown.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 2, 2022

It’s the color of her hair — soft and fine as corn silk.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2022

McCarthy’s stylists get high marks for accuracy on cut and color—a sort of corn silk, “green yellow” in the Crayola lexicon.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 7, 2017

Mr. Sherman has simmered corn silk with purple bergamot blossoms to make tea, and braised rabbit with spruce tips.

From New York Times • Aug. 16, 2016

They had dry, brittle wings like corn- husks, and tufts of white hair like corn silk.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan