corn silk

American  

noun

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

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of corn silk

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

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

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

From Seattle Times • Aug. 22, 2016

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

On his flabby shoulders he had wispy blond hairs that flowed in the wind like corn silk.

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos