Gossamer
/ˈɡɒs.ə.mər/noun
A fine, filmy substance consisting of cobwebs or very thin, delicate fabric.
Did you know?The term 'gossamer' comes from 'goose summer', referring to the season when geese are often seen and the delicate webs appear in abundance, hinting at the magic of nature's cycles.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
gōs
“goose, a bird associated with the season of abundance.”
Old English
OE
sumer
“summer, the time of warmth and growth.”
Early Middle English
ME
gossamer
“the fine, delicate threads spun by spiders that appear in autumn.”
14th Century
Middle English
gossamer
“used to describe a fine, light fabric or the ethereal quality of cobwebs.”
Modern English
English
gossamer
“refers to anything very light, thin, or delicate, often associated with the supernatural.”