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cotton gin

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noun
  1. a machine for separating the fibers of cotton from the seeds.
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Origin of cotton gin

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for cotton gin

Historical Examples

  • In 1812 Whitney applied for a renewal of his patent for the cotton-gin.

    Historic Inventions

    Rupert S. Holland

  • Wherever cotton grew in the South there the cotton-gin was to be found.

    Historic Inventions

    Rupert S. Holland

  • We passed a cotton-gin this morning, the first that I ever saw; but they were not at work with it.

  • And at his cotton-gin was the appointed place for the mob to meet.

  • The cotton-gin probably had much to do with the justification of slavery.