U

flax

noun

any plant of the genus Linum, especially L. usitatissimum, a slender, erect, annual plant having narrow, lance-shaped leaves and blue flowers, cultivated for its fiber and seeds.
the fiber of this plant, manufactured into linen yarn for thread or woven fabrics.
any of various plants resembling flax.

noun

any herbaceous plant or shrub of the genus Linum, esp L. usitatissimum, which has blue flowers and is cultivated for its seeds (flaxseed) and for the fibres of its stems: family Linaceae
the fibre of this plant, made into thread and woven into linen fabrics
any of various similar plants
Also called: harakeke NZ a swamp plant producing a fibre that is used by Māoris for decorative work, baskets, etc

Old English fleax “cloth made with flax, linen,” from Proto-Germanic *flakhsan (cf. Old Frisian flax, Middle Dutch and Dutch vlas, Old Saxon flas, Old High German flahs, German Flachs), probably from Proto-Germanic base *fleh-, corresponding to PIE *plek- “to weave, plait” (see ply (v.1)). But some connect it with PIE *pleik- (see flay) from the notion of “stripping” fiber to prepare it.