silesia

[ si-lee-zhuh, -shuh, sahy- ]

/ sɪˈli ʒə, -ʃə, saɪ- /

noun

a lightweight, smoothly finished, twilled fabric of acetate, rayon, or cotton, for garment linings.

Nearby words

silent service, silent treatment, silent vote, silently, silenus, silesia, silesian, silesius, angelus, silex, silhouette, silhouetted

Origin of silesia

First recorded in 1665–70; named after Silesia

Definition for silesia (2 of 2)

Silesia

[ si-lee-zhuh, -shuh, sahy- ]

/ sɪˈli ʒə, -ʃə, saɪ- /

noun

a region in central Europe along both banks of the upper Oder River, mainly in SW Poland and the N Czech Republic: formerly divided between Germany (which had the largest portion), Poland, and Czechoslovakia; by provision of the Potsdam agreement 1945, the greater part of German Silesia came under Polish administration; rich deposits of coal, iron, and other minerals.

German Schlesien. Polish Śląsk. Czech Slezsko.

Related formsSi·le·sian, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for silesia

The small portion of that army which lay in Silesia was unprepared for hostilities.
Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3)|Thomas Babington Macaulay
Frederic then turned upon the Russians, and drove them out of Silesia.
The Empire of Austria; Its Rise and Present Power|John S. C. Abbott
Their brethren of Silesia had aided them in this great achievement.
The Empire of Austria; Its Rise and Present Power|John S. C. Abbott
Frederick was free to withdraw from the war, and he was again recognised as sovereign of Silesia.
The Marquis D'Argenson: A Study in Criticism|Arthur Ogle

At the same time, the Austrians gained no foothold in Silesia itself.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 1|Various

British Dictionary definitions for silesia (1 of 2)

silesia

/ (saɪˈliːʃɪə) /

noun

a twill-weave fabric of cotton or other fibre, used esp for pockets, linings, etc

Word Origin for silesia

C17: Latinized form of German Schlesien Silesia

British Dictionary definitions for silesia (2 of 2)

Silesia

/ (saɪˈliːʃɪə) /

noun

a region of central Europe around the upper and middle Oder valley: mostly annexed by Prussia in 1742 but became almost wholly Polish in 1945; rich coal and iron-ore depositsPolish name: Śląsk Czech name: Slezsko German name: Schlesien

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

Word Origin and History for silesia

Silesia

former eastern German province, now southwestern Poland, from Latinized form of German Schliesen (Polish Slask), from the name of a river and a mountain there, from Silingi or Silingae, name of a Vandalic (Germanic) people who supposedly had a religious center at the mountain. Related: Silesian. In reference to cloth imported from there from 1670s, especially "a thin cotton cloth, commonly twilled, used for linings for women's dresses and men's garments."