GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Floss , n. [It. floscio flabby, soft, fr. L. fluxus flowing, loose, slack. See Flux, n.]
   (Bot.) The slender styles of the pistillate flowers of maize; also called silk.
   1913 Webster
   Untwisted filaments of silk, used in embroidering.
   1913 Webster
   A body feather of an ostrich. Flosses are soft, and gray from the female and black from the male.
   Webster 1913 Suppl.
   Floss silk, silk that has been twisted, and which retains its loose and downy character. It is much used in embroidery. Called also floxed silk. -- Floss thread, a kind of soft flaxen yarn or thread, used for embroidery; -- called also linen floss, and floss yarn.
   McElrath.
   
   1913 Webster
   
         
       

2.       
   Floss, n. [Cf. G. floss a float.]
   A small stream of water. [Eng.]
   1913 Webster
   Fluid glass floating on iron in the puddling furnace, produced by the vitrification of oxides and earths which are present.
   1913 Webster
   Floss hole. (a) A hole at the back of a puddling furnace, at which the slags pass out. (b) The tap hole of a melting furnace.
   Knight.
   
   1913 Webster