silk gland

noun

1. any of several glands, as in various insects and spiders, that secrete a viscid protein substance which hardens into silk on contact with air.

Word History and Origins

Origin of silk gland¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Hayashi hopes more insights will come from watching the silk gland develop, as young spiders mature into adults.

From Nature

“Going from this soluble state is very important because otherwise, the silk gland would get clogged,” said an author of the study, Dr. Jan Johansson, a medical biochemist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

From New York Times

Alex then took the plunge to spell the word for a silk gland "serictory."

From Reuters

“There’s no lab anywhere in the world where somebody has an artificial silk gland.”

From New York Times

Their head is a large silk gland, and with their modified front legs, they pull the silk and line their tunnels.

From New York Times