Definition

Noun 1. A type of wild silk: "Tussah" refers to a coarse, brownish silk produced by certain wild silkworms, particularly the larvae of moths in the genus Antheraea. 2. The silkworm producing this silk: "Tussah" can also refer to the caterpillar or moth itself that spins this type of silk.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to the silk material:

  • The scarf was woven from a blend of tussah and cotton.
  • Tussah silk has a distinctive texture and natural tan color.

• Referring to the insect:

  • The tussah feeds on oak leaves rather than mulberry leaves.
  • Farmers collect the cocoons of the tussah to harvest the silk.

Advanced Usage

• "Tussah silk": This is the most common compound usage, explicitly denoting the textile material.
  • Her dress was made of lightweight tussah silk.

Variants and Related Words

• Tussore (noun): A variant spelling and synonym for "tussah," referring to the same silk or silkworm.
• Tussah moth (noun): A compound term for the insect species that produces tussah silk.
• Wild silk (noun): A general category that includes tussah silk, produced by silkworms other than the domesticated mulberry silkworm ().

Synonyms

• Wild silk: A broader term for silk produced by undomesticated silkworms.
• Shantung: A type of fabric often originally made from tussah silk, characterized by a slubbed texture.

Noun

1. oriental moth that produces brownish silk