filature

American  

[fil-uh-cher, -choor] / ˈfɪl ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər /

noun

1. the act of forming into threads.

2. a reel for drawing off silk from cocoons.

3. the reeling of silk from cocoons.

4. an establishment for reeling silk.

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filature British  

/ ˈfɪlətʃə /

noun

1. the act or process of spinning silk, etc, into threads

2. the reel used for this

3. a place where such spinning or reeling is done

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Etymology

Origin of filature

1750–60; < French < Medieval Latin fīlātūra the spinning art, equivalent to fīlāt ( us ) spun (past participle of fīlāre; see filament) + -ūra -ure

Example Sentences

Accordingly Pierre's box of lunch was stowed away in Henri's locker, and speeding across the little bridge that connected the filature with the throwing mills, the two boys entered the great factories.

From The Story of Silk by Price, Hattie Longstreet

The boys exchanged a smile and passed on into the filature, as the factory where the reeling was done was called.

From The Story of Silk by Price, Hattie Longstreet

We have described the processes by which cocoons are ordinarily cooked and brushed, these being the first processes of the filature.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 620, November 19,1887 by Various

In 1756, three thousand seven hundred and eighty-three pounds and one ounce of cocoons were received at the filature, and two hundred and sixty-eight pounds of raw silk reeled.

From Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe by Harris, Thaddeus Mason

"I came into this filature when quite young, and it has taken me years to find out even the little I know now."

From The Story of Silk by Price, Hattie Longstreet