silk [OE] In the ancient world silk came overland to Europe from China and Tibet. The Greeks and Romans called the inhabitants of these far-away and unknown lands Seres, and from this word silk developed via various languages. The observation that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear has been proverbial since the late 16th century. A silk [L19th] is a senior lawyer who has been made a Queen’s (or King’s) Counsel. The name comes from the silk robes they are entitled to wear—they are also said to take silk when they reach this rank. See also satin.