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byssus
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noun (plural byssuses)
  1. An exceptionally fine and valuable fibre or cloth of ancient times. Originally used for fine flax and linens, its use was later extended to fine cottons, silks, and sea silk.
  2. The long fine silky filaments excreted by several mollusks (particularly Pinna nobilis) by which they attach themselves to the sea bed, from which sea silk is manufactured.
  3. The stipe or stem of some fungi which are particularly thin and thread-like.
Etymology: From Hebrew bÅá, Aramaic bus via Greek " 'a very fine yellowish flax and the linen woven from it', Latin byssus " 'fine cotton or cotton stuff', 'silk' and via New Latin to 'sea silk'.

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