n. [ AS. fleax; akin to D. vlas, OHG. flahs, G. flachs, and prob. to flechten to braid, plait, m twist, L. plectere to weave, plicare to fold, Gr. &unr_; to weave, plait. See Ply. ] 1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Linum, esp. the L. usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fiber of the bark is used for making thread and cloth, called linen, cambric, lawn, lace, etc. Linseed oil is expressed from the seed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken and cleaned by hatcheling or combing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Earth flax (Min.), amianthus. --
Flax brake, a machine for removing the woody portion of flax from the fibrous. --
Flax comb, a hatchel, hackle, or heckle. --
Flax cotton, the fiber of flax, reduced by steeping in bicarbonate of soda and acidulated liquids, and prepared for bleaching and spinning like cotton. Knight. --
Flax dresser, one who breaks and swingles flax, or prepares it for the spinner. --
Flax mill, a mill or factory where flax is spun or linen manufactured. --
Flax puller, a machine for pulling flax plants in the field. --
Flax wench. (a) A woman who spins flax. [ Obs. ] (b) A prostitute. [ Obs. ] Shak. --
Mountain flax (Min.), amianthus. --
New Zealand flax (Bot.) See Flax-plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Made of flax; resembling flax or its fibers; of the color of flax; of a light soft straw color; fair and flowing, like flax or tow; as, flaxen thread; flaxen hair. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A plant in new Zealand (Phormium tenax), allied to the lilies and aloes. The leaves are two inches wide and several feet long, and furnish a fiber which is used for making ropes, mats, and coarse cloth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The seed of the flax; linseed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) See Toadflax. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like flax; flaxen. Sir M. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]