floss

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floss / flôs; fläs/ • n. the rough silk enveloping a silkworm's cocoon. ∎  (also floss silk) untwisted silk fibers used in embroidery. ∎  the silky down in corn and other plants: milkweed floss. ∎ short for dental floss.• v. [tr.] clean between (one's teeth) with dental floss: I flossed my teeth | [intr.] you must floss well. ORIGIN: mid 18th cent.: from French (soie) floche ‘floss (silk),’ from Old French flosche ‘down, nap of velvet,’ of unknown origin.

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