floss

Etymology 1

Uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English *flos (attested in Middle English Flosmonger (a surname)), related to English fleece. Alternatively from French floche (“tuft of wool”), from floc, from Old French flosche (“down, velvet”), from Latin floccus (“piece of wool”), probably from Frankish *flokkō (“down, wool, flock”), from Proto-Germanic *flukkô (“down, piece of wool, flock”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewk- (“hair, fibres, tuft”). Cognate with Old High German flocko (“down”), Middle Dutch vlocke (“flock”), Norwegian dialectal flugsa (“snowflake”), Dutch flos (“plush”) (tr=17c.).

noun

1. A thread used to clean the gaps between the teeth.
2. Raw silk fibres.
3. The fibres covering a corncob etc.; the loose downy or silky material inside the husks of certain plants, such as beans.
4. Any thread-like material having parallel strands that are not spun or wound around each other.
   embroidery floss
5. (Britain) Spun sugar or cotton candy, especially in the phrase "candy floss".
6. A body feather of an ostrich.
   Flosses are soft, and grey from the female and black from the male.
7. A dance move in which the dancer repeatedly swings their arms, with clenched fists, from the back of their body to the front, on each side.

verb

1. To clean the area between the teeth using floss.
2. (slang, African-American Vernacular) To show off, especially by exhibiting one's wealth or talent.
   As the label's name no doubt implies, these rappers aren't your typical crew, even if they still like to floss and represent their city. 2003, Vladimir Bogdanov, All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap and Hip-Hop, Backbeat Books, page 554
   “Ms. Jackson” is probably the most sensitive—and realistic—take on relationships to come out of hip-hop, while “Red Velvet” cautions would-be playas against pushing the floss envelope around “dirty boys” just waiting for a chance to add some gray flecks to that fur. 2003, Oliver Wang, Classic Material: The Hip-Hop Album Guide, ECW Press, page 134
   It's impossible to floss wealth without attracting envy. 2007, Azie Faison, Agyei Tyehimba, Game Over: The Rise and Transformation of a Harlem Hustler, Simon and Schuster, page 69
3. To perform the floss dance move.

Etymology 2

From dialectal flosh (“a flush, stream of water, sluice”), from Middle English flosche, flusche, flasche, flaske (“a watery or marshy place, swamp”), perhaps from Old French flache, from Middle Dutch vlacke (“a flat area, plain”), ultimately related to Proto-West Germanic *fleutan. Compare also German Floss (“a float”).

noun

1. (UK) A small stream of water.
2. Fluid glass floating on iron in the puddling furnace, produced by the vitrification of oxides and earths which are present.

Etymology 3

Origin obscure. Perhaps of North Germanic origin. Compare Norwegian flos, flus (“rind, scale, strip peeled off”).

noun

1. (Northern England, Scotland) The common rush (Juncus effusus).