Especially in "souple silk". Designating silk from which only a portion of the gummy sericin component has been removed and which is less soft and lustrous than silk which is free of sericin.
Origin
Early 19th century. From French souple.
Definition of souple in US English:
souple
adjectiveˈsuːpl
Especially in "souple silk". Designating silk from which only a portion of the gummy sericin component has been removed and which is less soft and lustrous than silk which is free of sericin.