noil

noil - n., a short fiber of cotton, wool, etc. removed from longer fibers during carding.


Often spun separately into yarn. Pronounced phonetically. Use documented since around 1620, origin unknown -- one possiblity is from Old French noel, from Latin nōdellus, diminutive of nōdus, knot (maybe a knitter could explain how knots get into this).

---L.