What is "silk gown"

Silk \Silk\, n. [OE. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. & Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk', and also L. sericum Seric stuff, silk. Cf. Sericeous. Serge a woolen stuff.]

1. The fine, soft thread produced by various species of caterpillars in forming the cocoons within which the worm is inclosed during the pupa state, especially that produced by the larv[ae] of Bombyx mori.

2. Hence, thread spun, or cloth woven, from the above-named material.

3. That which resembles silk, as the filiform styles of the female flower of maize. Raw silk, silk as it is wound off from the cocoons, and before it is manufactured. Silk cotton, a cottony substance enveloping the seeds of the silk-cotton tree. Silk-cotton tree (Bot.), a name for several tropical trees of the genera Bombax and Eriodendron, and belonging to the order Bombace[ae]. The trees grow to an immense size, and have their seeds enveloped in a cottony substance, which is used for stuffing cushions, but can not be spun. Silk flower. (Bot.)

   1. The silk tree.

   2. A similar tree ( Calliandra trinervia) of Peru.

      Silk fowl (Zo["o]l.), a breed of domestic fowls having silky plumage.

      Silk gland (Zo["o]l.), a gland which secretes the material of silk, as in spider or a silkworm; a sericterium.

      Silk gown, the distinctive robe of a barrister who has been appointed king's or queen's counsel; hence, the counsel himself. Such a one has precedence over mere barristers, who wear stuff gowns. [Eng.]

      Silk grass (Bot.), a kind of grass ( Stipa comata) of the Western United States, which has very long silky awns. The name is also sometimes given to various species of the genera Aqave and Yucca.

      Silk moth (Zo["o]l.), the adult moth of any silkworm. See Silkworm.

      Silk shag, a coarse, rough-woven silk, like plush, but with a stiffer nap.

      Silk spider (Zo["o]l.), a large spider ( Nephila plumipes), native of the Southern United States, remarkable for the large quantity of strong silk it produces and for the great disparity in the sizes of the sexes.

      Silk thrower, Silk throwster, one who twists or spins silk, and prepares it for weaving.
      --Brande & C.

      Silk tree (Bot.), an Asiatic leguminous tree ( Albizzia Julibrissin) with finely bipinnate leaves, and large flat pods; -- so called because of the abundant long silky stamens of its blossoms. Also called silk flower.

      Silk vessel. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Silk gland, above.

      Virginia silk (Bot.), a climbing plant ( Periploca Gr[ae]ca) of the Milkweed family, having a silky tuft on the seeds. It is native in Southern Europe.

Stuff \Stuff\, n. [OF. estoffe, F. ['e]toffe; of uncertain origin, perhaps of Teutonic origin and akin to E. stop, v.t. Cf. Stuff, v. t.]

1. Material which is to be worked up in any process of manufacture.

   For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
   --Ex. xxxvi. 7.

   Ambitions should be made of sterner stuff.
   --Shak.

   The workman on his stuff his skill doth show, And yet the stuff gives not the man his skill.
   --Sir J. Davies.

2. The fundamental material of which anything is made up; elemental part; essence.

   Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience To do no contrived murder.
   --Shak.

3. Woven material not made into garments; fabric of any kind; specifically, any one of various fabrics of wool or worsted; sometimes, worsted fiber.

   What stuff wilt have a kirtle of?
   --Shak.

   It [the arras] was of stuff and silk mixed, though, superior kinds were of silk exclusively.
   --F. G. Lee.

4. Furniture; goods; domestic vessels or utensils.

   He took away locks, and gave away the king's stuff.
   --Hayward.

5. A medicine or mixture; a potion.
   --Shak.

6. Refuse or worthless matter; hence, also, foolish or irrational language; nonsense; trash.

   Anger would indite Such woeful stuff as I or Shadwell write.
   --Dryden.

7. (Naut.) A melted mass of turpentine, tallow, etc., with which the masts, sides, and bottom of a ship are smeared for lubrication.
   --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

8. Paper stock ground ready for use.

   Note: When partly ground, called half stuff.
   --Knight.

   Clear stuff. See under Clear.

   Small stuff (Naut.), all kinds of small cordage.
   --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

   Stuff gown, the distinctive garb of a junior barrister; hence, a junior barrister himself. See Silk gown, under Silk.