Word of the Day
Lisle (lyuhl)
Common clues: Cotton thread; Strong cotton thread
Crossword puzzle frequency: 7 times a year
Frequency in English language: 41675 / 86800
Definition: A fine, tightly twisted cotton thread spun from long-stapled cotton used for making hosiery and gloves.
Origin: from Lisle, former spelling of Lille, a city in northern France where lisle was made.
To create lisle, one thread is twisted an extra twist per inch than ordinary yarns in one direction and a second thread is twisted at the same rate in the opposite direction. The two threads are then combined and twisted together. The extra twists in lisle yarns give additional strength and resilience. Due to the additional processing required to make lisle, it is more expensive than basic cotton yarn.
[Source: Knitting Together]
“I wore a pair of glove-fitting low shoes and lisle-thread socks. I can remember that yet. I would advise anyone going into the mines not to wear lisle-thread socks and low shoes. You are liable to stick your foot into a snow-bank or a mud hole and dip up too much water.”
[Source: “A Mountain Snowstorm” by Bill Nye]
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