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noil

[noil]
noun
  1. a short fiber of cotton, wool, worsted, etc., separated from the long fibers in combing.
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Origin of noil

First recorded in 1615–25; origin uncertain
Related formsnoil·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for noil

Historical Examples of noil

  • The short fiber obtained in combing long staple wool is called "noil."

    Textiles and Clothing

    Kate Heintz Watson

  • An increased yield and better quality of top, owing to the absence of broken fiber, and consequent diminution of noil and waste.

  • Some of the noil collected by the combing process is composed of a large percentage of short mohair.

British Dictionary definitions for noil

noil

noun
  1. textiles the short or knotted fibres that are separated from the long fibres, or staple, by combing
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Word Origin for noil

C17: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012