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

They should, on the other hand, be sold for the filature.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 492, June 6, 1885 by Various

The cocoons delivered at the filature in 1760, weighed seven thousand nine hundred and eighty-three pounds, and there were spun eight hundred and thirty-nine pounds.

From Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe by Harris, Thaddeus Mason

Shall we begin then our journey through the filature?

From The Story of Silk by Price, Hattie Longstreet

The expense of the culture was large this year, owing to the erection of the filature, &c., which swelled the sum to 609_l_.

From Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe by Harris, Thaddeus Mason

Here in Pont-de-Saint-Michel almost every one is employed in the Gaspard filature, or in the throwing mills; and if not, the people raise silkworms.

From The Story of Silk by Price, Hattie Longstreet