From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
v.0.48:  Byssus \Bys"sus\, n.; pl. E. Byssuses; L. Byssi.[L.
byssus    fine flax, fine linen or cotton, Gr. by`ssos .]
[1913 Webster]    1. A cloth of exceedingly fine texture, used
by the ancients.       [Written also byss and byssin.]
[1913 Webster]     2. (Zool.) A tuft of long, tough filaments
which are formed       of certain bivalve mollusks, as the Pinna
and Mytilus,       by which they attach themselves to rocks,
etc.       [1913 Webster]     3. (Bot.) An obsolete name for
certain fungi composed of       slender threads.       [1913
Webster]     4. Asbestus.       [1913 Webster] Feedback Form