gossamer

[ gos-uh-mer ]

noun

1. a fine, filmy cobweb seen on grass or bushes or floating in the air in calm weather, especially in autumn.
2. a thread or strand of a filmy cobweb seen outdoors.
3. an extremely delicate variety of gauze, used especially for veils.
4. any thin, light fabric.
5. something extremely light, flimsy, or delicate:

   The viper appeared to be midway through sloughing off its skin, half covered as it was with a thin gossamer of its former outer self.

6. a thin, waterproof outer garment, especially for women, popular in the late 19th century.

adjective

1. Also gos·sa·mer·y [] gos·sa·mered. of or like gossamer; extremely light, flimsy, or delicate: Perhaps our hopes are gossamer dreams, strung together with wishful thinking.

   Did you notice this dragonfly's gossamer wings?

   Perhaps our hopes are gossamer dreams, strung together with wishful thinking.

gossamer

/ ˈɡɒsəmə /

noun

1. a gauze or silk fabric of the very finest texture
2. a filmy cobweb often seen on foliage or floating in the air
3. anything resembling gossamer in fineness or filminess
4. modifier made of or resembling gossamer

   gossamer wings

Derived Forms

• ˈgossamery, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gossamer¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gos(s)esomer, gossummer “filmy substance made of cobwebs; fine filament; something trivial”; possibly first used as a name for late, mild autumn, a time when goose was a favorite dish (compare German Gänsemonat “November”), then transferred to the cobwebs frequent at that time of year

Word History and Origins

Origin of gossamer¹

C14 (in the sense: a filmy cobweb): probably from gos goose ¹+ somer summer ¹; the phrase refers to St Martin's summer, a period in November when goose was traditionally eaten; from the prevalence of the cobweb in the autumn; compare German Gänsemonat, literally: goosemonth, used for November

Example Sentences

Named cardiac nexus glia, these cells appear early in zebrafish development and go on to spread out and form a gossamer-thin web around the heart, Smith and Kikel-Coury reported last year in PLOS Biology.

From Science News

The Levity’s only feature is a single pocket, and we took extra care with the delicate zippers and gossamer fabric.

From Outside Online

Wanna’s Christo-like “Within Without” encloses the stairway entrance to the second-floor gallery in gossamer fabric, outlined by floor-level light strips.

From Washington Post

Sea butterflies flit through the ocean on gossamer wings, each species with a style of its own.

From Science News

When the short-skirted, gossamer clad nymphs made their appearance on the stage they became restless and fidgety.

From Project Gutenberg

Mackintoshes, vulcanized india-rubber, gutta-percha, and gossamer dust-coats unknown then.

From Project Gutenberg

But look at the difference here: after dinner here one is as light as a gossamer.

From Project Gutenberg

Her dress was of finest work, its texture thin as gossamer; pure white with here and there a silken knot of blue.

From Project Gutenberg

Everywhere were threads of water, threads of snow, and little threads of dewy green, glistening like gossamer.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fibrous
• silky
• translucent