Cotton


[kot-n] /ˈkɒt n/

noun
1.
a soft, white, downy substance consisting of the hairs or fibers attached to the seeds of plants belonging to the genus Gossypium, of the mallow family, used in making fabrics, thread, wadding, etc.
2.
the plant itself, having spreading branches and broad, lobed leaves.
3.
such plants collectively as a cultivated crop.
4.
cloth, thread, a garment, etc., of cotton.
5.
any soft, downy substance resembling cotton, but growing on other plants.
verb (used without object)
6.
Informal. to get on well together; agree.
7.
Obsolete. to prosper or succeed.
Verb phrases
8.
cotton (on) to, Informal.

[kot-n] /ˈkɒt n/
noun
1.
John, 1584–1652, U.S. clergyman, colonist, and author (grandfather of Cotton Mather).
/ˈkɒtən/
noun
1.
any of various herbaceous plants and shrubs of the malvaceous genus Gossypium, such as sea-island cotton, cultivated in warm climates for the fibre surrounding the seeds and the oil within the seeds See also sea-island cotton
2.
the soft white downy fibre of these plants: used to manufacture textiles
3.
cotton plants collectively, as a cultivated crop
4.

5.
any substance, such as kapok (silk cotton), resembling cotton but obtained from other plants
/ˈkɒtən/
noun
1.
Sir Henry. 1907–87, English golfer: three times winner of the British Open (1934, 1937, 1948)
n.

late 13c., from Old French coton (12c.), ultimately (via Provençal, Italian, or Old Spanish) from Arabic qutn, a word perhaps of Egyptian origin. Philip Miller of the Chelsea Physic Garden sent the first cotton seeds to American colony of Georgia in 1732. Also ultimately from the Arabic word, Dutch katoen, German Kattun, Provençal coton, Italian cotone, Spanish algodon, Portuguese algodão. Cotton gin is recorded from 1794 (see gin (n.2)).
v.

“to get on with” someone (usually with to), 1560s, perhaps from Welsh cytuno “consent, agree.” But perhaps also a metaphor from cloth finishing and thus from cotton (n.). Related: Cottoned; cottoning.

Related Terms

in tall cotton, shit in high cotton

Read Also:

  • Cottonade

    [kot-n-eyd] /ˌkɒt nˈeɪd/ noun 1. a heavy, coarse fabric made of cotton or mixed fibers and often resembling wool, used in the manufacture of work clothes. /ˌkɒtəˈneɪd/ noun 1. a coarse fabric of cotton or mixed fibres, used for work clothes, etc

  • Cotton-batting

    noun 1. absorbent cotton pressed into pads or layers for use in dressing wounds, filling quilts, etc.

  • Cotton-belt

    noun 1. (sometimes lowercase) the part of the southern U.S. where cotton is grown, originally Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, but now often extended to include parts of Texas and California. noun 1. a belt of land in the southeastern US that specializes in the production of cotton

  • Cotton-bollworm

    noun 1. .

  • Cotton bud

    noun 1. a small stick with a cotton-wool tip used for cleaning the ears, applying make-up, etc


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