Talk:silk

RFD discussion: March–April 2018

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silk

The adjective is attributive use of the noun. I would have thought the true adjective is silken (silky is a wee bit different). DonnanZ (talk) 17:25, 3 March 2018 (UTC)

In most cases like this, I would be inclined to agree...but silk as in a silk blouse seems like an adjective to me. You can say another blouse is more silk or less silk (that may or not prove anything though). It may derive from an adjective in Middle English (silk, silke) and therefore warrant its own Etym header. Leasnam (talk) 21:19, 5 March 2018 (UTC)

I've added the new etym header to the page. Leasnam (talk) 21:31, 5 March 2018 (UTC)

In Canadian English, you can't say "more silk" or "less silk," as far as I'm aware, so if a non-attributive use exists, it may be regional.

I'm on the fence. I can't find any clearly adjectival use in English. If this is indeed derived from a Middle English adjective, it would be evidence that the adjective section might merit inclusion under a "jiffy"-like "aliquot" rationale. But the Middle English adjective is homographic to and supposedly derived from the noun, which makes the case less convincing. OTOH, although Merriam-Webster has it only as a "noun, often attributive", Dictionary.com does have an adjective section, which is a "lemming" rationale for inclusion. The fact that other languages have adjectives for this means it would be useful (in the general case) to have an adjective section to put them in, but in this particular case they can go in silken regardless of whether or not silk has an adjective section. Meh. Weak keep. - -sche (discuss) 20:22, 6 March 2018 (UTC)

Switching to weak delete on the grounds that it doesn't meet any tests of adjectivity and any translations are covered by silken. - -sche (discuss) 04:57, 24 March 2018 (UTC)

I think we are more concerned with current usage than with possible etymology. I would say a silk shirt, blouse, dress or handkerchief is made of silk (or artificial silk); I'm not sure about making a silk purse from a sow's ear! DonnanZ (talk) 14:52, 8 March 2018 (UTC)

M-W[1] says "noun, often attributive". AHD[2] has an adjective section. oxforddictionaries.com[3] uses tag "often as modifier" on its fabric subsense. On another note, I find the splitting of etymology based on minor differences unhelpful. --Dan Polansky (talk) 08:31, 18 March 2018 (UTC)

I agree about the etymology split. Mihia (talk) 04:11, 24 March 2018 (UTC)

• Delete. I do not see it as a true adjective. However, there are also adjective entries for paper "Made of paper", copper "Made of copper", brick, "Made of brick(s)", and so on, so perhaps the general question needs looking at. I do not agree that any of those are proper adjectives in those meanings. Mihia (talk) 04:11, 24 March 2018 (UTC)

• Delete -- I agree entirely with Mihia--the general question needs to be addressed for the attributive uses of nouns. --SanctMinimalicen (talk) 14:05, 24 March 2018 (UTC)

• RFD failed. —Μετάknowledge^{discuss/deeds} 23:52, 15 April 2018 (UTC)