Emaceration

/ɪˌmæsəˈreɪʃən/ noun

Definition

The process of softening, separating, or breaking down fibers or materials by soaking them in liquid, traditionally used in textile and paper production.

Etymology

From Latin 'emaceratio,' the noun form of 'emacerare,' describing the action and results of soaking fibers to prepare them for processing.

Kelly Says

Linen production depended on emaceration—flax plants had to soak in water for weeks so the fiber separated from the woody core, a technique unchanged for thousands of years!

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