silk
noun
[ sɪlk ]
• a fine, strong, soft lustrous fibre produced by silkworms in making cocoons and collected to make thread and fabric. Silk is also spun by some insect larvae and by most spiders.
• a Queen's (or King's) Counsel.
Origin:
Old English sioloc, seolec, from late Latin sericum, neuter of Latin sericus, based on Greek Sēres, the name given to the inhabitants of the East Asian countries from which silk first came overland to Europe.
take silk
• become a Queen's (or King's) Counsel.
• "some barristers who take silk repent it"
