noil

A weaver sorts through a pile of soft noil before spinning.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Short, waste fibers: "noil" refers to short fibers of silk, wool, or other materials that are removed during the combing process in textile manufacturing. These fibers are often too short to be spun into high-quality yarn and are typically used for cheaper fabrics or as stuffing.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The textile mill collected the noil from the combing machines to sell as filling for pillows. (Short waste fibers from silk or wool processing.)
  • Cheaper fabrics often contain a high percentage of noil, which reduces their strength and smoothness. (Waste fibers used in lower-quality materials.)
  • She bought a scarf made from silk noil, appreciating its textured, matte appearance. (A fabric woven from short silk fibers.)

Advanced Usage

• "Silk noil": a type of fabric made from short silk fibers, known for its nubby texture and matte finish.
  • The dress was crafted from silk noil, giving it a casual, rustic look. (A fabric with a slightly rough surface.)
• "Noil yarn": yarn spun from noil fibers, often used in knitting or weaving for a softer, less uniform texture.
  • The artisan preferred noil yarn for its natural, uneven character. (Yarn made from short fibers.)

Variants and Related Words

• Noily (adj): containing or resembling noil; having a short, fuzzy texture.
  • The noily surface of the fabric felt soft but slightly rough. (Having the texture of noil fibers.)
• Noilage (n): the process or result of producing noil fibers.
  • The noilage increased as the combing machine wore down. (The production of short waste fibers.)

Synonyms

• Waste fibers: short, discarded fibers from textile processing.
• Short staple: fibers of limited length, often used for lower-quality textiles.
• Combings waste: the residue left after combing long fibers.

Related Idioms