silicify 
ties In California, Nevada, and Arizona. It is extensively 
used for ornamental and decorative purposes. Table-tops 
three feet in diameter have been sawed from a single sec- 
tion. 
II. intrans. To become silica; be impreg- 
nated with silica. 
silicious, siliceous (si-lish'us, -ius), a. [= F. 
Kiliceiij; of or pertaining to flint, < L. sitirriix, 
of or pertaining to flint, < silex ("Hie-), flint: 
see silex, silica.] 1. Containing or resembling 
silica, or having its general character. 2. In 
:aiil., containing or consisting of silica or si- 
licious substance in one or another form : as, 
nilicious sponges: wY/riHS sponge-spicules ; the 
xiliciii;:* test or skeleton of various protozoans, 
especially radiolarians Silicious earth, earth 
consisting of or especially abounding in silica. Silicious 
sinter. Same as opal (h). Silicious waters, such wa- 
ters as contain silica in solution in considerable quantity, 
as many boiling springs. 
Silicispongise (sil"i-si-spon'ji-e), n. pi. [NL., 
< L. si/e.f (nitic-), flint, + spongia, a sponge.] 
Silicious sponges ; an order or other group of 
sponges characterized by the presence of sili- 
cious spicules: used with varying latitude by 
different writers. In the widest sense the Silictepon- 
gite include all non-calcareous sponges, whether silicious 
spicules are present or not, and are the same as Silicea, 2. 
In Sollas's classification the term is restricted to Micro- 
masticlora having a skeleton the scleres of which are not 
calcareous, being thus the silicious sponges without the 
Myxospoiiyix. Also Silicoftponffix. See cuts under Pori- 
fera and Spongilla. 
silicium (si-lish'i-um), H. [NL., < L. silex (silic-), 
Hint.] Same as silicon. 
siliciuret (si-lis'iu-ret), n. [< L. silex (silic-), 
flint, + -uret.] Same as silicide. 
siliciureted, siliciuretted (si-lis'iu-ret-ed), a. 
[< L. silex (silic-), flint, + -uret + -ed?.] Com- 
bined so as to form a siliciuret Siliciureted 
hydrogen, hydrogen silicide (SiHA a colorless gas com- 
posed of silicon and hydrogen, which takes fire sponta- 
neously when in contact with air, giving out a brilliant 
white light. 
silicle (sil'i-kl), n. [Also silicule, < F. silicule; 
< L. silicula, a little husk 
or pod, dim. of siliqua, a 
husk, pod: see siliqua.] 
In hot., in the mustard 
family, a short silique 
that is, a pod or seed- 
vessel the length of 
which does not more ,. o , sh ^t puKC (Caf . 
than twice, or possibly nii*Btm*-f<ut*rb), a. same, 
tl-ivino aiTT-naaa tlio opened, to show the placenta, 
tnrice, surpass tne the seeds and thc two valvss . ,. 
breadth, as in the shep- or yem.ii whitlow-crass, F.- 
herd's-purse, Lunaria, a '. ".(."same^'opened" to show 
Candytuft, etc. See Si- the valves, the dissepiment, and 
lique, pouch, 4, and fig. 4 
under pod. Also silicula, silicule. 
silicoborate (sil"i-ko-b6'rat), n. [< silicon + 
borate.] Same as borosilicate. 
nilicoborocalcite (siFi-ko-bo-ro-kal'sit), n. [< 
L. silex (silic-), flint, + NL. boron + E. calcite.] 
Same aa howlite. 
silicocalcareous (siFi-ko-kal-ka're-us), a. 
Same as silicicalcareous. 
silicofluoric (sil"i-ko-flij-or'ik), a. [< silicon + 
fltior-in + -ic.] Pertaining to or consisting of 
silicon and fluoriu. 
silicofluoride (sil"i-ko-flo"o-rid or -rid), n. 
[< silicon + fluor + -toe 1 .] M 2 .SiF 6 , a salt of 
silicofluoric acid. See silicofluoric. 
silicon (sil'i-kon), n. [< NL. silicon, < L. silex 
(silic-), flint: see silex, silica.] Chemical symbol, 
Si; atomic weight, 28.19. A.non-metaliic ele- 
ment which is obtained in three allotropic forms 
namely, amorphous, as a dull-brown powder 
soluble in alkali, which burns when ignited; 
graphitic, in crystalline leaves having a strong 
metallic luster and lead-gray color, insoluble in 
alkali and non-combustible ; and crystalline, in 
octahedral needles having a red luster, and 
hardness a little less than that of the diamond. 
Next to oxygen, silicon is the most abundant element in na- 
ture. It is found only in combination, chiefly with oxygen, 
forming silicon dioxid, or silica, which combined with bases 
makes up the larger part of the rock-crust of the globe. 
Also called sUMum. Silicon-brass, brass prepared with 
the addition of a small amount of silicon, by which its 
valuable qualities are said to be improved. Silicon- 
bronze, copper prepared with the addition of a small 
amount of silicon-copper, by which its valuable properties 
for certain uses, as for telegraph-wire, are said to be con- 
siderably improved. Weiller's silicon- bronze telegraph- 
wire was found by analysis to consist of almost chemically 
pure copper, with 0.02 per cent, of silicon. The silicon- 
bronze telephone-wire of the same maker contained 1.02 
per cent, of zinc, 1.14 of tin, and 0.05 of silicon. The addi- 
tion of the silicon in the manufacture of silicon-bronze 
seems to have no other etf ect than that of entirely remov- 
ing the oxygen of the copper. Silicon-Iron, iron con- 
taining a large proportion of silicon (as much, in some in- 
stances, as 10 to 14 per cent.), prepared for use in improv- 
ing the quality of cast-iron, especially for foundry use, 
5C20 
which it is now believed to do by its action on the carbon 
which the iron contains, an increase of silicon chan^in;.' 
combined carbon to graphitic, and vice versa. Also called 
high-silicon iron, and. of late more generally, ferro-gilicon. 
" When the founder understands its [silicon's] use, he 
may soften and toughen, or harden and strengthen his 
iron to suit his requirements." (Keep and Orton, Trans. 
Amcr. Inst. II in. Eng. (1888-9), XVII. 253.) Silicon 
ware, a kind of stoneware introduced about 1888 by the 
Lambeth potteries : it is colored in the body, very slightly 
glazed, and somewhat resembles Wedgwood ware in sur- 
face and coloring. 
siliconize (sil'i-kon-iz), v. t. and i. ; pret. and pp. 
siliconized, ppr. si/iconizing. [< silicon + -i;c.] 
To combine, or cause to combine, with silicon. 
The presence of alkaline silicates in the furnace pro- 
motes the siliconizing of the iron. Encyc. Brit., XIII. 351. 
silicosis (sil-i-ko'sis), n. [NL., < silicon + -osis.] 
Pneumonoconiosis in which the particles are 
of flint : same as cltalicosis. 
Silicoskeleta (sil"i-ko-skere-ta), n. pi. [NL., 
pi. of silicoskeleton, ^ L. silex (silic-), flint, + 
(jr. twAf-roV, a skeleton.] A subclass of Badin- 
laria, containing those radiolarians whose skel- 
eton, if any, is silicious. Most of these protozoans 
have the power of secreting silica to form a more or less 
elaborate network or basketwork, as figured under liadio- 
laria. The term is contrasted with Acanthometrida. 
silicoskeletal (sil"i-kp-skel'e-tal), a. [< silico- 
skeleton + -al.] Having a silicious skeleton, as 
a radiolarian ; composed of silica, as a skeleton. 
Silicospongi8e(sil"i-ko-spon'ji-e), n. pi. [NL.] 
Same as Niliciapongiee. 
silicula (si-lik'u-la), . ; pi. siliculse (-le). [NL., 
< L. silicula, a little husk or pod: see silicle.] 
In bot., same as silicle. 
Silicular (si-lik'u-lar), a. [< silicula + -or 3 .] 
In bot., having the shape or appearance of a 
silicula or silicle. 
silicule (sil'i-kul), n. Same as silicle. 
siliculose (si-lik'u-16s), a. [< NL. siliculosus, < 
L. silicula, a little husk or pod : see silicle.] 1. 
In bot., same as silicular. 2f. Full of husks; 
consisting of husks; husky. 3. Same as sili- 
qttosc, 2. Siliculose cataract. See siliquose cataract, 
under siliquose. 
siliculous (si-lik'u-lus), n. Same as siliculose. 
siliginoset, siliginoust (si-lij'i-nos, -nus), a. 
[< L. siligo (siligin-), a white kind of wheat, + 
-ose.] Made of fine wheat. Bailey, 1727. 
siling-dish (si'ling-dish), n. Same as sile 1 , 2. 
siliqua (sil'i-kwa), . ; pi. siliquse (-kwe). [NL., < 
L. siliqua, a husk, pod, also a very small weight : 
see silique.] 1. In bot., same as silique. 2. A 
Roman unit of weight, T7 Vs of a pound. 3. A 
weight of four grains, used in weighing gold and 
precious stones; a carat. 4. In anat. , a forma- 
tion suggesting a husk or pod Siliqua ollvse, 
in anat., the fibers appearing on the surface to encircle 
more or less completely the inferior olive of the brain : 
their outer and inner parts are called funiculi siliquee. 
Siliquaria (sil-i-kwa'ri-a), n. [NL., < L. sili- 
qua, a husk, pod: see siliqua.'] In conch.: 
(a) A genus of tasnioglossate holostomatous 
gastropods, belonging to the fam- 
ily Vernietidse or made type of 
the Siliquariidee, having a tubular 
shell which begins as a spiral 
and ends with irregular separated 
whorls or coils, somewhat like 
the hard cases of some worms, as 
serpulas. S. anguina is a typical 
example. Bruguieres, 1789. (6) 
[1. c. ; pi. siliquarias (-).] A spe- 
cies or an individual of this ge- 
nus, (c) A genus of bivalve mol- 
lusks: same as Soleeurtus. Schu- 
macher, 1817. 
Siliquariidae (sil"i-kwa-ri'i-de), 
n. pi. [NL., < Siliquaria + -idee.] 
A family of tsenioglossate gastro- 
pods, typified by the genus Siliquaria, having a 
tubular shell with a continuouslongitudinal slit, 
which at first is spiral, 
but later grows irregular. 
The species are closely 
related to the Fermetidx, 
and by most concholo- 
gists are referred to that 
family. 
silique (si-lek'), n. [< F. 
xi/iqite = Sp. silicua = Pg. 
It. siliqua, < L. siliqua, a 
husk, pod: see siliqua.] 
In bot., the long pod- 
like fruit of the mustard 
family. It is a narrow two- 
valved capsule, with two parie- Sihques. 
tal placenta!, from which the ' of C J3*5'JK 
valves separate in dehiscence. ph'ani^<m. *f. 
Frequently a false partition is phila lams. 
silk 
stretched across between the two placentae, rendering the 
pod two-celled in an anomalous way. Also eiliqua. See 
also cut under pod. 
siliquiform (sil'i-kwi-form), a. [< L. siliqwi, a 
husk, pod, T forma, form.] Having the form 
of a silique. 
siliquose, siliquous (sil'i-kwos, -kwus), . [< 
NL. xiliqi!iix, < \j. tttiqtta, a husk, pod : see sili- 
qua.'] 1. In hot., bearing siliques; having or 
forming that species of pod called a silique: 
as, xiliquose plants. 2. In metl., resembling or 
suggesting a silicle. Also siliculiisc Siliquose 
cataract, in med., a form of cataract with absorption of 
Siliquaria art. 
gnina. 
the greater part of the lens and with calcareous impreg- 
nation of the layer of the capsule. Also called dry-shelled 
cataract, silicitlose cataract, cataracta arido-xiliquata. 
Siliquose desquamation. in med., the casting off from 
the skin of dried vesicles whose fluid contents have been 
absorbed. 
silk (silk), . and a. [< ME.s/H-, xi/lk, xclk, selc, 
seolk, < AS. seolc, seoloc, sioloc, sioluc (in comp.) 
(for *silc, like meolc, milk, for *iilc) = Icel. 
silki = Sw. Dan. silkc, silk; cf. Russ. shelku = 
White Russ. and Little Russ. ulinll; = OPruss. 
silkas, silk, = Lith. xliilktii, xliilkiMt, silk, silkas, 
silk threads, = Hung, selycm, silk, all prob. < 
Scand.; OHG. silecho, selecho, sclacho, a robe 
(< Slav. ?) (cf . E. serge 1 , < F. serge = Pr. serga, 
sirgua = Sp. sarga = Pg. sa-rjn = It. sargia, 
serge, silken stuff, = Ir. siric, silken, < L. serica, 
fern.) ; < L. sericum, silk, pi. serica, silken gar- 
ments, silks, lit. Seric stuff, neut. of Sericus, < 
Gr. 2vp<K<if, pertaining to the Seres, Seric, < Gr. 
2^pfC, L. Seres, a people of eastern Asia cele- 
brated for their silks: see Seric. The Chinese 
name for silk is sze, s:ii, sz\ with variants sei, si, 
whence Corean sa, sil, sir, Mongol sereg, silk, < sc 
(< Chinese sze, sei) + -reg, a suffix of Tatar lan- 
guages. The Chinese word is prob. not connected 
with the European, except that the Gr. 2?;pef may 
mean the Chinese, and be based on the Chinese 
name for silk. For the more common Teut. word 
for 'silk,' see [Say*.] I. n. 1. A fine soft thread 
produced chiefly by the larvee of various bom- 
bycid moths, especially of Bombyx (Sericaria) 
mori, known as silkworms, feeding on the leaves 
of the mulberry and several other trees. (See 
Bombyx and silkworm, and compare gut, 4.) Silk 
is the strongest, most lustrous, and most valuable of textile 
fibers. The thread is composed of several finer threads 
drawn by the worm from two large organs or glands con- 
taining a viscid substance, which extend, as in other co- 
coon-making caterpillars, along a great part of the body and 
terminate in two spinnerets at the mouth. With this sub- 
stance the silkworm envelops itself, forming its cocoon. 
Raw eilk is produced by the operation of winding off at the 
same time several of these cocoons, after they have been 
immersed in hot water to soften the natural gum on the 
filament, on a common reel, thereby forming one smooth, 
even thread. Before it is fit for weaving it is converted 
into one of three forms, namely singles, tram, or crrganzine. 
Singles (a collective noun) is formed of one of the reeled 
threads, twisted in order to give it strength and firmness. 
Tram is formed of two or more threads twisted together, 
and is commonly used in weaving as the shoot or weft. (For 
orgamitie, see thrown silk, below.) Silk of various qualities 
(but none fully equal to the preceding) is produced by 
different genera of the family Satiirniitlx, particularly 
the tusser-worm of India, Attacits mylitta, the yama-mai 
of Japan, Anthersea pernyi, etc., feeding on the oak and 
other plants. 
2. A similar thread or fiber spun by various 
other insects, especially some spiders; a kind 
of cobweb or gossamer. Some such webs are 
lustrous, and may be reeled like true silk. See 
Nepliila, and cut under silk-spider. 3. Cloth 
made of silk; by extension, a garment made of 
such cloth. In this sense the word has a plural, silks, 
denoting different sorts or varieties : as, black silk; white 
silk; colored silks. 
The kynge hyme selfene sette . . . 
Undyre a sylure of st/lke. 
Marte Arthure (E. E. T. S.), 1. 8196. 
And seeing one so gay in purple silks. 
Tennyson, Geraint. 
She bethought her of a faded silk. Tennyson, Geraint. 
4 . The mass of long filiform styles of the female 
flower of maize: so called from their resem- 
blance in the unripe state to silk in fineness 
and softness. [U. S.] 5. The silky down in 
the pod of the milkweed (hence also called silk- 
weed). 6. The silkiness or silky luster often 
observed in the sapphire or ruby, due to the 
inclusion of microscopic crystals between the 
crystalline layers of the gem. The silk is visi- 
ble only on what would be the pyramid faces of 
the crystals. 
In many genuine rubies we find a silky structure (call- 
ed silk by jewellers). Jour. Franklin I>ist., CXXII. 380. 
Changeable silk. Same as shot silk. China silk. 
See pongee. Corah silk. See corah. Dacca silk, an 
embroidery-silk sold in skeins. That commonly used is 
of European make, though preserving the Indian name. 
Diet, of Needlework. Eliottine silk [named from Eliot, 
a writer on needlework], a kind of knitting-silk. Fur- 
niture-Silk, a fabric of silk or having a silk surface, used 
