silk cotton

American  

noun

1. the silky covering of the seeds of certain tropical trees of the bombax family, used for stuffing cushions, pillows, etc.

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silk cotton British  

noun

1. another name for kapok

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Etymology

Origin of silk cotton

First recorded in 1690–1700

Example Sentences

I saw coconut and Borassus palms, pawpaw trees, baobabs, and a giant silk cotton rising above all the others, a large nest silhouetted in its top branches.

From Literature

It's made with Italian bridle leather and covered with a silk cotton canvas that displays the flag flawlessly.

From Golf Digest

Other eye-catching gifts include a sword, a copy of the Kuwaiti Constitution, a “sleeveless white silk cotton garment” and two robes lined with the fur of white tigers.

From New York Times

“The bespoke silk cotton lace was hand appliquéd to create an illusion of the dress having ‘no seams’.

From Los Angeles Times

We pulled into a clearing beneath a silk cotton tree, and a massive male Bengal tiger emerged from a wall of elephant grass.

From National Geographic