noil

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

noil, n. [Prob. fr. Prov. E. oil, ile, ail, a beard of grain (OE. eil, AS. egl) combined with the indef. article, an oil becoming a noil.].

 A short or waste piece or knot of wool separated from the longer staple by combing; also, a similar piece or shred of waste silk.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

noil, n. (in sing. or pl.) short wool-combings.

Etymology

perh. f. OF noel f. med.L nodellus dimin. of L nodus knot