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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Silk(e, n. Also: sylk(e, syllk, selk, schilke. [ME and e.m.E. sylk (c1310), selke (c1315), silk (Chaucer), early ME also seolke (Layamon), OE sioloc, seoloc, ON silki, (L. sēricus silken).]For many further examples see the Indexes of the various volumes of Treas. Acc.

1. Silk, the thread, yarn or fabric made from silk filaments. Variously const. c1400 Troy-bk. i 348.
The benkis … Our-spred with goldin claithis … So ryche that they saw neuir swylk For thar was notht bot gold and sylk 1473 Treas. Acc. I 18.
To the couering of the porteus j vnce of blac silk … v s. a1500 Sir Eger 324.
She stopped my wounds full of silk 1489 Treas. Acc. I 111.
For sylk and odir stuf to the Kingis banere 1501 Treas. Acc. II 66.
ij unce silk to be ane belt to the Rude of Carale 1507 Treas. Acc. III 255.
For xx unce silk quhit and blak to the broudstar for cordis for bardis housouris and other thing 1549 Treas. Acc. IX 351.
Ane quartar unce silk to sew thir trasis upoun thir kellis 1553 Treas. Acc. X 193.
Ane quarter of ane unce of tannye silk to steik the buttoun hollis and the guscheatis and pyis of thir hois, ij s. 1567 Hay Fleming Q. Mary 509.
Of sylk to be hoys to the quens grace viij unce 1567 G. Ball. 50.
The sylk and sandell thé to eis, Ar hay, and sempill sweilling clais 1586-7 Acc. Lady Bellenden 1.
iiii dozen buttons, … to be stringis to the samin vi drop of silk 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 192.
Sax bendis of jeit & silk wowin togidder 1594 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 305. 1661 Acts VII 253/2.
Silk of all sorts 1681 Foulis Acc. Bk. 77.
To buy silk and threid for my ryding coat(b) 1531 Edinb. Hammermen 131b.
For mending of the dovne welwos weistment to ane tailȝeor & for selk, ij s. 1536 Edinb. Hammermen 147.

b. Of silk.Also culloris of silk, ? silk thread in a variety of colours for use in embroidery.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vii 58.
Na claths of sylk he wald nocht were ?1438 Alex. ii 3688.
Carpettis of silk and siluer 1429 Acts II 18/1.
Na man sal weir clathis of silk … bot … knychtis and lordis 1436 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 147.
Vnum vestimentum de grene silke c1450-2 Howlat 405 (A).
Tuscheis of trast silk tichit to the tre 1454 Old Dundee II 13.
Twa cods of silk 1456 Hay II 50/15.
Jakkis … of sylk a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 318.
Frenyeis of fyne silk a1500 Sir Eger 376.
The tents that in my wounds yeed … were neither lake nor line, Of silk they were 1529 Treas. Acc. V 370.
For graithing of the Kingis suerdis, scawbartis, cordis of silk 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 144.
His tippat of sylk 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII 43.
The cuveringis of the lettronis witht fassis of silk 1561 Inv. Q. Mary 30 (see Draucht n. 8). 1567 Treas. Acc. MS 65.
iiij vnce of braid lugit bissettis of silk to put vpoun the gowne 1575 Edinb. Test. III 363 (see Kell n.¹ 1). 1575 Edinb. Test. III 383b (see Capidosé n.). 1586 Edinb. Test. XVII 27b (see Lillikin(e n. a). 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 192 (see Nedil(l n. 1 e). 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 308.
Garters of silk embrodered at the ends(2) 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 55.
Chamlot of silk, violet 1548 Treas. Acc. IX 269. 1556 Dundee B. Ct. III fol. 63 (1 Aug.) (see Satin(e n. 1 (1) (e)). 1566 Facs. Nat. MSS III li.
Chamlothe of sylk to be ane velicotte 1575 Edinb. Test. III 361.
xlvi elnis of cannes of silk rayit price of the eln v s.(3) 1599 Treas. Acc. MS 27.
Ane … colheid claith fillit with colouris of silk and gold 1603 Montgomery Mem. 247. 1610 Brechin Test. III 122.
Elewin vnce off culloris off silk

c. With silk. c1453–4 Coll. St. Salvator 157 n.
Four lang coschynis knoppyt wyth sylk a1500 Henr. Fab. 1351.
His hude off scarlet, bordowrit weill with silk 1505 Treas. Acc. III 175.
Hiltis … to the Kingis armyng sword and binding of it with silk 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 174.
Schetis ane therof sewit with sylk 1542 Acts & Decr. I 141.
Ane blawing horne … hung with silk 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 84.
Ane … jowpoun of blak velvott broderit with silk 1575 Edinb. Test. III 362.
Layn collaris with silk 1583 Sc. Ant. I 77.
A new cloke of Frenche tannye, lased … withe syllk 1623 Fraser P. 236.
Ane chalmer buird claith reid sasit with silk

d. In silk.Also ? applied to a piece of fabric (lawn) inserted in a piece of silk.(1) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 593.
Thir fair ladyis in silk and claith of laik c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxi 20.
As cursouris that in silk beine trappit 1535 Stewart 3540.
He hes tane mony knaif, … and cled thame all … In silk 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 124.
The greit lordis … In silk and gold(2) 1562 Treas. Acc. XI 225.
Twa grit flouris maid in silk(3) 1562 Treas. Acc. XI 183.
xviij elnis of fyne lawine [ed. lawnie] in silk to be vaill, the elne x s.

e. In collocation with worsat. 1563–4 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun (SRS) 138.
Ane cannabe with the curtenes and coveringis half selk half wersat 1611 McKay Kilmarnock 308.
Ane lang carpet, half worset half selk 1622 Crim. Trials III 511.
Sum cullourit silk and worset, for practizeing of witchcraft

f. With qualifiers indicating the use or nature of the material in a particular instance.See also Bastard adj. 2, Belting vbl. n., Nedil(l)-werk n., Paris (4), Philosell attrib. or as n., Pippan(e n., Raw adj. 2 a, Ribban n. b, Satin(e n. 2 a, Sewin(g vbl. n.¹ 2 a. 1436 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 147.
Schilke 1549 Treas. Acc. IX 334.
Thre score thre elnis trasing silk to the samyn coit … iij li. iij s. 1551 Treas. Acc. X 37.
Ane bonett of wovin silk 1552 Treas. Acc. X 83.
Ane hatt of double silk 1575 Edinb. Test. III 361.
Gray droggat silk rayit 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II 138.
Fiue vnce of blak stiking silk

2. Allusively or metaphorically as the type of something soft. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 10.
Haill spice of taist … Haill, silk to graipe c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 96.
Soft and soupill as the silk is his sary lume

3. As a count noun. a. sing. A piece of silk, a silk handkerchief; a garment of silk. a1500 K. Hart 684.
Dame Plesance … hir face hid with ane silk c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 365.
He grathit me in a gay silk [M. in gay silk]

b. pl. Particular sorts, colours, etc. of silk fabric or thread; articles or garments made of silk. ?1438 Alex. ii 2503.
In Venus chalmer … On segis quhare silkis was nocht to seik 1471 Acts II 100/1.
Na man sal weir silkis … in gown doublate & clokis except knychtis menstrallis & herraldis 1492 Myll Spect. 275/12.
Thai … attyre thare bodyes with claithis of gold, silkis, and mony vther precius adornamentis 1495 Halyb. 65.
Redy mony to by silkis [pr. sykis] 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 546.
Mony entrappit steid with silkis seir 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 4.
For certane silkis and vther merchandice 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 5.
Silkis for the Kingis grace littecamp 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 115.
Welvot to be … gounys … sating to be … kirtillis … dammes to be … ane goun … and for v elnis of gret canves to pak the said silkis intill c1542 Misc. Bann. C. I 14.
Lordes … who … for velvettis and silkis be right well araide c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 120.
His hois … war of the reid skarlet maid … Begaryit all with sindrie silkis hew, Of nedill wark richt richelie all resplaid 1570 Reg. Privy S. VI 165/1.
Walx, silkis, spices 1581 Acts III 220/2.
Coistlie cleithing of silkis 1581 Acts III 240/2 (see Raw adj. 2 a). 1611 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 94.
Freis buttons and silks bocht fra hir 1673 Aberd. Council Lett. V 291.
Stryped silks

4. attrib. and comb. a. Of garments, etc.: Made of silk. b. With the names of particular fabrics. c. With terms relating to the manufacturing process; also with agent nouns. d. Silke worme.a. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 426.
Raw silk brechamis 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III 367.
For binding of … sword handis with silk cordis 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 373.
For hornyng of silk poyntis 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII 43.
For twa crucefixis of silk browdery work 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II 138.
Aucht vnce of silk pasmentis 1611 Edinb. Test. XLVI 252.
Thrie vnce … of silk pearling at iiij merk the vnce 1644–5 Misc. Spald. C. V 163.
Sexteine dusson pear knap silk buttons 1645 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 42.
A pair of new silk shankes 1663 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 187.
Ane old silk quilted mat 1676 Cunningham Diary 69.
A pair of black silk stockins 1681 Foulis Acc. Bk. 95.
To buy silk threid 1688 Cramond Kirk S. II 6 May.
Two mortcloaths … and deep rich silke fringes for each of themb. 1614 Laing MSS I 135 (see Killiemankie n.). 1624 Edinb. Test. LII 322 (see Peropus n. (b)). 1647 Elgin Rec. I 182 (see Camlet(t n.). 1649 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 781.
Ane gowne of iboured tafetie layed over with silk lace 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 310 (see Craip n. 2).c. 1622 Edinb. Test. LI 282b.
Ane silk quheill to tueyne silk pryce aucht pund 1682 New Mills Manuf. 22.
Foure silk stocken frames … two thousand merkes — 1681 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 20.
The supplicants … having bein called to this kingdome to erect ane manufactory of silk weaving — 1636 Edinb. Test. LVII 294.
Philipe Thomesone Inglisman silk dyer 1661 Edinb. Test. LXX 95b.
Samuell Moddell silk weivar 1674 Edinb. Test. Index II 309.
Daniell Odall, silk weaver 1690 Edinb. Marr. 175.
Silk throsterd. 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 24.
Bombyx, a silke worme

5. As a generic term for the processes involved in the manufacture of silk. 1598 Edinb. Skinners in Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 75.
Nocht to instruct that boy in ony skynner work bot silkis, quhill he may lesumlie buik his prenteis 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS 26 Dec.
Anent certane owertouris of bringing craftismen to Perth to work in silk sindrie artis 1683 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 75.
In erecting of linning and silk manufactories and in bringing home of strangers weavers and others to worke … in silk