ETYM Old Eng. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. and Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk, and also Latin sericum Seric stuff, silk. Related to Sericeous. Serge a woolen stuff.
> Fine soft thread produced by the larva of the silkworm moth when making its cocoon. It is soaked, carefully unwrapped, and used in the manufacture of textiles. The introduction of synthetics originally harmed the silk industry, but rising standards of living have produced an increased demand for real silk. It is manufactured in China, India, Japan, and Thailand.1. A fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae.
2. Fibers from silkworm cocoons provide threads for knitting.

In UK law, a Queen's Counsel, a senior barrister entitled to wear a silk gown in court.