COTTON, in Latin Gossypium, a kind of white soft Wool, which is found in a sort of brown Nut, growing upon a Shrub, the Leaves whereof are like those of a Sycomore Tree, and almost of the same Figure. This Plant puts forth abundance of beautiful yellow Flowers, finer than those of that kind of Mint which smells like Musk; the ground of this Flower is of a Purple colour, and all striped within. There is an oval Bud that appears in the middle, and grows in time as big as a Pigeon’s Egg. When it is ripe, it turns black, and divides itself at top into three parts; the Cotton of it looks as white as Snow, and with the heat swells to the largeness of a Pullet’s Egg. There are three black Berries in the bud as big as Lupines that stick close together.
שש Schesch, Byssus. Exod. xxv. 4.It is our opinion, that the Scripture speaks of Cotton under the Hebrew name Schesch, which in Latin is translated Byssus. The word Xylinum, which signifies Cotton, may be derived from Schesch or Xes and Linum, and that of Gossypium, which signifies the same thing, may be formed from the Hebrew Ægos, a Nut, and Pioth, Mouths, because the Nut, which produces Cotton, opens itself, and shews the Wool which it is filled with. See our comment upon Exodus xxv. 4. p. 333.