sea-island cotton

or Sea Island cotton

[ see-ahy-luhnd ]

noun
  1. a long-staple cotton, Gossypium barbadense, raised originally in the Sea Islands and now grown chiefly in the West Indies.

Origin of sea-island cotton

1
An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805

Words Nearby sea-island cotton

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sea-island cotton in a sentence

  • An improved form of the roller gin is at present used for cleaning the long-staple Sea Island cotton.

    Textiles | William H. Dooley
  • In every other respect Sea Island cotton is in advance over Hinganghat cotton.

    Textiles | William H. Dooley
  • The sea-island cotton, called also "long staple" on account of its very long silky fibres, is the finest cotton known.

    Soil Culture | J. H. Walden
  • Sea island cotton is used chiefly for fine laces, thread and knit goods and for the finest lawns and muslins.

    Textiles and Clothing | Kate Heintz Watson
  • Gulf cotton occupies a position between upland and sea island cotton.

    Textiles and Clothing | Kate Heintz Watson

British Dictionary definitions for sea-island cotton

sea-island cotton

noun
  1. a cotton plant, Gossypium barbadense, of the Sea Islands, widely cultivated for its fine long fibres

  2. the fibre of this plant or the material woven from it

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